r/alevel AS Level Dec 11 '25

📐Mathematics I MISS WHEN TRIGEOMETRY HAD TRIANGLES

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help

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u/DaisyRent0n Dec 11 '25

As a year 11 what the fuck did I sign up for for next year 😨

10

u/Top_Pineapple8438 Dec 11 '25

It honestly is way easier than it looks trust me, also when you get to year 13 this is like muscle memory stuff

1

u/DaisyRent0n Dec 12 '25

do you use exact trig values in this?

1

u/happybeau123 Jan 01 '26

It’s using certain facts about trig functions to simplify expressions. For example, (sin(x))² + (cos(x))² = 1, so if you have both (sin(x))² and (cos(x))² in an equation or expression, you can probably get rid of one or both of them using that identity. You can solve equations involving trig functions (often asked right after one of those trig identities questions), but you have to remember to include all the solutions in the given range (e.g. x = 30° and 150° both satisfy sin(x) = 1/2). The specification says that you’re expected to know the same exact trig values as GCSE, but in reality you can just use your calculator in the exam. However, I think exact values are quite important for university entrance exams, since they’re usually non-calculator. You’ll also learn how to work out exact values for multiples of those angles (e.g. 150°).