June 2025 Paper 3 Q6

OCR ACurrent spec12 marksDifferentiationTrigonometry

6 The compound angle formulae for \(\sin(A + B)\) and \(\sin(A - B)\) are

\(\sin(A + B) = \sin A\cos B + \cos A\sin B\) and
\(\sin(A - B) = \sin A\cos B - \cos A\sin B\).

(a) By letting \(C = A + B\) and \(D = A - B\), show that
\(\sin C - \sin D = 2\cos\left(\dfrac{C + D}{2}\right)\sin\left(\dfrac{C - D}{2}\right)\). [1]
Right-angled triangle PQR with the right angle at Q, PQ = r cm and angle QPR = theta radians. T lies on PR with PT = r; arc QST is part of a circle centre P, and the chord QT is drawn.

The diagram shows a right-angled triangle \(PQR\) with \(PQ = r\) cm. The angle \(QPR\) is \(\theta\) radians. The diagram also shows the sector \(PQST\) of a circle with centre \(P\) and radius \(r\) cm. The line segment \(QT\) is a chord of the sector \(PQST\).

(b) By considering the areas of triangle \(PQT\), sector \(PQST\) and triangle \(PQR\), show that
\(1 \lt \dfrac{\theta}{\sin\theta} \lt \dfrac{1}{\cos\theta}\). [4]
(c)
(i) Hence write down a similar inequality interval for the expression \(\dfrac{\sin\theta}{\theta}\). [1]
(ii) Hence state \(\displaystyle\lim_{\theta \to 0} \frac{\sin\theta}{\theta}\). [1]
(d) Using parts (a) and (c)(ii), show from first principles that the derivative of \(\sin x\) is \(\cos x\), where \(x\) is measured in radians. [4]

A student attempts to use the result regarding the derivative of \(\sin x\) to find the derivative of \(\cos x\). The student’s attempt is shown below.

Let\(y = \cos x\), where \(x\) is measured in radians.
\(y = \sin\left(\dfrac{\pi}{2} - x\right)\)
so\(\dfrac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x} = \cos\left(\dfrac{\pi}{2} - x\right)\)
but\(\sin x \equiv \cos\left(\dfrac{\pi}{2} - x\right)\)
therefore\(\dfrac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x} = \sin x\).
(e) Identify the error made by the student. [1]