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Trigonometric Functions

HSC HSC Mathematics Advanced · 2024 content registry · first HSC 2027

T1.1T1.2T1.3
Assessment evidence

What these examples cover

These examples show assessable skills, not an official HSC topic weighting or prediction. The 2024 NSW syllabuses have their first HSC examination in 2027; students sitting the 2026 HSC continue under the applicable 2017 syllabus.

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Teacher verification note: check the mathematics, notation, permitted technology and syllabus fit for your cohort before classroom or assessment use.

3 deterministic examples

Trigonometric Functions questions with worked solutions

Each question is generated from an existing curriq QDSL archetype at a fixed seed. Marks and catalog content mappings travel with the generated question.

Worked example 1

2 marksadv-t2-1
Exact cotangent Given costheta=6/10cos theta=6/10 and sintheta<0sin theta<0, find cotthetacot theta exactly.
Part a · 2 marks

Find the exact value.

Worked solution

Answer: -3/4

  1. Quadrant Sign: fourth quadrant
  2. Pythagorean Identity: -3/4

Catalog reference: adv_nsb20_exact_cotangent · seed 41001

Worked example 2

2 marksadv-t2-1
Exact cosine from tangent Given tanalpha=−1/7tan alpha=-1/7 and sinalpha>0sin alpha>0, find the exact value of cosalphacos alpha.
Part a · 2 marks

Give the value in exact radical form.

Worked solution

Answer: -7 (sqrt(50)^(-1))

  1. Trigonometric Quadrant: 2
  2. Pythagorean Ratio: -7 (sqrt(50)^(-1))

Catalog reference: adv_pem24_exact_cosine_from_negative_tangent · seed 41001

Worked example 3

2 marksadv-t2-2
Trigonometric identity Prove (cotu+cosecu)/(tanu+sinu)=cotucosecu(cot u + cosec u)/(tan u + sin u) = cot u cosec u.
Part a · 2 marks

Give a complete algebraic proof of the identity.

Worked solution

Answer: cos(x) / (sin(x)^2)

  1. Rewrite Trigonometric Ratios: express every ratio using sine and cosine
  2. Simplify Identity: cos(nx)/sin(nx)^2

Catalog reference: adv_jr24_trigonometric_identity_proof · seed 41001

Content mapping and common errors

Trigonometric Functions content identifiers

T1.1

Trigonometry and Measure of Angles

Use radians, arc length and sector area; understand and apply the unit circle definition of trigonometric functions.

Common student mistakes
  • ·Forgetting to convert degrees to radians before applying arc/sector formulas
  • ·Sign errors in the four quadrants of the unit circle
T1.2

Trigonometric Functions and Identities

Sketch and interpret trigonometric functions; use Pythagorean, complementary and supplementary identities.

Common student mistakes
  • ·Using the wrong Pythagorean identity under pressure
  • ·Incorrect period/amplitude in graph sketches
T1.3

Graphs of Trigonometric Functions

Graph transformations of trigonometric functions; model periodic phenomena.

Common student mistakes
  • ·Confusing period = 2π/n with amplitude
  • ·Not adjusting the key points after a horizontal translation

Source and methodology

Examples are deterministic curriq catalog generations from existing QDSL archetypes at the published fixed seed. The generator copies only student-facing prompts, mark allocations, topic mappings, display tables or options, checked answers and marking-path results into this resource.

Review the official NSW Curriculum source ↗

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