UP Board Class 10 — Trigonometry: Previous Year

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

Prepared for: Ansh Sir

1 + cot2 θ
Contents 1. Q1 — If 3 sin A = 1 (acute A) — find sec A 2. Q2 — Identity: = cot2 θ 3. Q3 — If
1 + tan2 θ
sin θ = cos θ — compute tan2 θ + cot2 θ 4. Q4 — Given 15 cot A = 8 — find sin A and sec A 5. Q5 —
2
Evaluate sin 30∘ + cos2 60∘ 6. Q6 — If sin x + cos y = 1 , with x = 30∘ and y acute — find y 7. Q7 — If
csc2 θ (cos θ − 1)(1 + cos θ) = k — find k 8. Q8 — If tan θ + sec θ = 2 (acute θ ) — find sin θ 9. Q9 —
Height & distance problem (elevation angles 30° and 60° after moving closer) 10. Q10 — Evaluate
sin 30∘ cos 60∘ + cos 30∘ sin 60∘
sin 45∘

Clear, exam-style solutions

Q1 (PYQ): If 3 sin A = 1 , find sec A (acute A ).

Solution: sin A = 13 . cos2 A = 1 − sin2 A = 1 − 19 = 89 .
1 3 3 2
Since A is acute, cos A = 2 3 2 . ∴ sec A = = = .
cos A 2 2 4

1 + cot2 θ
Q2 (Identity proof): Show that = cot2 θ .
1 + tan2 θ
csc2 θ
Solution: Use Pythagorean identities: 1 + cot2 θ = csc2 θ and 1 + tan2 θ = sec2 θ . So LHS = =
sec2 θ
1/ sin2 θ cos2 θ
= = cot2 θ .
1/ cos2 θ sin2 θ
Hence proved.

Q3 (MCQ-style): If sin θ = cos θ , then tan2 θ + cot2 θ = ?

Solution: For acute θ , sin θ = cos θ ⇒ tan θ = 1 (i.e. θ = 45∘ ). So tan2 θ + cot2 θ = 12 + 12 = 2.

1
Q4: Given 15 cot A = 8 . Find sin A and sec A .
8
Solution: cot A =
. Consider a right triangle with adjacent = 8k, opposite = 15k. Hypotenuse =
15
15k 15
82 + 152 k = 17k. sin A = = .
17k 17
8 17
cos A = ⇒ sec A = .
17 8

2
Q5: Find sin 30∘ + cos2 60∘ .
Solution: sin 30∘ = 12 , cos 60∘ = 12 . Therefore value = ( 12 )2 + ( 12 )2 = 1
4 + 1
4 = 12 .

Q6: If sin x + cos y = 1 , with x = 30∘ and y acute, find y .

1
Solution: sin 30∘ + cos y = 1 ⇒ 2 + cos y = 1 ⇒ cos y = 12 . For acute y , y = 60∘ .

Q7: If csc2 θ (cos θ − 1)(1 + cos θ) = k , find k .

Solution: Simplify: (cos θ − 1)(1 + cos θ) = cos2 θ − 1 = −(1 − cos2 θ) = − sin2 θ. Multiply by csc2 θ :
k = − sin2 θ ⋅ csc2 θ = −1.

Q8 (UP Board style): If tan θ + sec θ = 2 , find sin θ (acute θ ).

Solution: Square both sides: tan2 θ
+ 2 tan θ sec θ + sec2 θ = 4. Use sec2 θ = tan2 θ + 1 :
2
So 2 tan θ + 2 tan θ sec θ + 1 = 4 ⇒ 2 tan θ(tan θ + sec θ) = 3. Since tan θ + sec θ = 2 , we get
3 3
2 tan θ ⋅ 2 = 3 ⇒ tan θ = . Triangle: opp = 3, adj = 4, hyp = 5. Thus sin θ = .
4 5

Q9 (Height & distance): From a point, elevation of top of a tower is 30∘ . On moving
20 3 m closer, elevation becomes 60∘ . Find height.
h x
Solution: Let initial distance = x , height = h . tan 30∘ = ⇒h= . After moving closer, distance =
x 3
h
x − 20 3 and tan 60∘ = = 3. So h = 3(x − 20 3). Equate both expressions for h :
x − 20 3
x 30
= 3(x − 20 3) ⇒ x = 3x − 60 ⇒ 2x = 60 ⇒ x = 30. Hence h = = 10 3 m.
3 3

2
 sin 30∘ cos 60∘ + cos 30∘ sin 60∘
Q10: Evaluate .
sin 45∘
2 1
Solution: Numerator = sin(30∘ + 60∘ ) = sin 90∘ = 1. Denominator = sin 45∘ = . Value = =
2 2/2
2.

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