← Senior Mathematics Studio

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Solve without losing cycles.

Read the idea, work independently, then explain what changed.

TOPIC 01

Complete trigonometric solution sets

Solve a transformed angle, recover every branch and intersect the original interval.

What you will be able to explain

  • Retain all angle branches and periodic copies in the requested interval.
  • Detect lost solutions from division and extraneous solutions from squaring.

Try it. Leave your reasoning visible.

Use one hint at a time. A correction explains what changed, not just the final answer.

Examples 1–3: study a full demonstration; finish a solution from its first step; then choose a method independently before opening the solution. The remaining exercises may continue after class.

01 / Standard#Your turn

Solve without losing cycles.

sin⁡2x=1/2,0≤x<360∘\sin2x=1/2,\quad0\le x<360^\circ
  • Degrees; 0≤x<360°.
Skills and prerequisite lessons

Scope: JM01 / JM02

Working and explanation

BUILD THE REASONING

Hint 1
The transformed angle spans 0≤2x<720°.
Hint 2
Find four angles before dividing by 2.
Worked solution
  1. List solutions for the transformed angle.

    2x=30∘,150∘,390∘,510∘2x=30^\circ,150^\circ,390^\circ,510^\circ
  2. Return to the original input.

    x=15∘,75∘,195∘,255∘x=15^\circ,75^\circ,195^\circ,255^\circ

15°,75°,195°,255°.

Checks and common pitfalls: Using only one transformed cycle halves the complete solution set.

Reasoning checklist · self / teacher assessment
  • List solutions for the transformed angle.
  • Return to the original input.

Think first. Reveal a hint when the class is ready.

Focus on one question

Teacher preparation and assessment

40-minute lesson

MinutesFocusTeaching and student action
5Branch diagnosisUse diagnostics to distinguish principal values and transformed intervals.
8Build solution setsMark equal-height points and periodic copies before filtering.
10Audit operationsPairs contrast safe division in sin x=cos x with lost roots in sin 2x=cos x.
12Classify and modelGroups classify parameter root counts and translate the wheel threshold.
5Exit completenessRequire a complete set and a reason no other branch fits.

Question sequence

  • What interval does the transformed angle actually traverse?
  • Did this operation lose or add candidates?

Board development

  • Preserve factor branches.
    cos⁡x(2sin⁡x−1)=0\cos x(2\sin x-1)=0
  • Map an angle interval back to time.
    π/6<πt/4<5π/6\pi/6<\pi t/4<5\pi/6

Expected correct and incorrect responses

  • “Both endpoints count because they are different real x-values” correctly handles k=0.
  • “Divide by cosine immediately” risks losing valid zero-factor solutions.

Follow-up questions

  • Why does substituting all found roots not prove that none were missed?

Remediation

  • For missing branches, draw the horizontal value line before invoking inverse trigonometry.
  • For transformed-interval errors, put x bounds and angle bounds in separate columns.

Exit check

  • Solve cos 2x=1 for 0≤x≤2π. Expected 0,π,2π with closed endpoints.

Assessment checklist and sample responses

  • 2 marks: branch and domain completeness.
    Full: four roots for sin 2x=1/2 on [0°,360°); partial: first two only.
  • 2 marks: validate nonreversible steps.
    Full: reject positive-sine roots after squaring; partial: accept all four squared-equation roots.

No sign-in. Work stays in this browser. Export before clearing browser data. Written reasoning is assessed with a checklist.

Curriculum and source notes ↗