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LIC AAO Complementary Angles

Study Material — 7 PYQs (2018–2020) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts

LIC AAO Complementary Angles is a frequently tested subtopic — 7 previous year questions from 2018–2020 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.

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8 Key Points
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Previous Year Questions

LIC AAO Complementary Angles — Past Exam Questions

7 questions from actual LIC AAO papers · all shown free · click option to reveal solution

Exam Q 12020Previous Year Pattern

If sin(35°) = k, then what is the value of cos(55°)?

Exam Q 22018Previous Year Pattern

If sin(35°) = cos(θ), where θ is an acute angle, find the value of θ.

Exam Q 32019Previous Year Pattern

If sin(35°) = k, then what is the value of cos(55°)?

Exam Q 42019Previous Year Pattern

If sin(5θ + 12°) = cos(3θ + 28°), where both angles are acute, find the value of θ.

Exam Q 52020Previous Year Pattern

If sin(5θ + 12°) = cos(3θ + 28°), where both angles are acute, find the value of θ.

Exam Q 62018Previous Year Pattern

If sin(3A − 15°) = cos(A + 25°), where 3A − 15° and A + 25° are both acute angles, find the value of A.

Exam Q 72018Previous Year Pattern

If sin(5x + 20°) = cos(3x + 40°), where both angles are acute, then find the value of tan(2x + 15°).

Concept Notes

Complementary Angles— Rules & Concept

Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic
SSC CGL typically asks three types of questions

direct formula application, simplification problems, and value finding. Direct questions give you an angle and ask for complementary ratio values. Simplification problems mix multiple complementary ratios in expressions. Value finding questions provide ratio values and ask for complementary angle ratios.

Here's a powerful shortcut: whenever you see (90° - θ) in any trigonometric expression, immediately swap the ratio with its complementary partner. Sin becomes cos, tan becomes cot, sec becomes cosec. This works both ways. If you see sin 60°, think cos 30°.

If you see tan 25°, think cot 65°

Let's solve a typical example
1

Identify complementary angles. Since 30° + 60° = 90°, these are complementary.

2

Apply complementary relationships. cos 60° = cos(90° - 30°) = sin 30°, sin 60° = sin(90° - 30°) = cos 30°.

3

Substitute values. sin 30° × sin 30° + cos 30° × cos 30° = (sin 30°)² + (cos 30°)².

4

Use standard values. sin 30° = 1/2, cos 30° = √3/2.

5

Calculate final answer. (1/2)² + (√3/2)² = 1/4 + 3/4 = 1. Another shortcut involves recognizing patterns. Expression like sin²θ + cos²θ always equals 1. When you see complementary angles multiplied or added in specific patterns, look for these standard identities.

Exam TrapsCommon mistakes students make — avoid these

include forgetting that complementary means sum equals 90°, not 180°. Students often confuse complementary with supplementary angles. Another error is applying relationships incorrectly - remember sin(90° - θ) = cos θ, not sin θ = cos(90° - θ).

Practice identifying complementary pairs quickly: 30°-60°, 45°-45°, 25°-65°, 37°-53°. Most SSC questions use these standard combinations.

Key Points to Remember

  • Complementary angles sum to exactly 90 degrees
  • sin(90° - θ) = cos θ and cos(90° - θ) = sin θ
  • tan(90° - θ) = cot θ and cot(90° - θ) = tan θ
  • sec(90° - θ) = cosec θ and cosec(90° - θ) = sec θ
  • Common complementary pairs: 30°-60°, 45°-45°, 37°-53°
  • Quick trick: swap ratios when you see (90° - θ)
  • sin²θ + cos²θ = 1 for any complementary relationship
  • Complementary means 90°, supplementary means 180°

Exam-Specific Tips

  • sin 30° = 1/2 and cos 60° = 1/2
  • tan 45° = cot 45° = 1
  • sin 37° = cos 53° = 3/5
  • cos 37° = sin 53° = 4/5
  • sin²θ + cos²θ = 1 for all values of θ
  • sec θ × cos θ = 1 for complementary calculations
  • Standard complementary pairs sum to 90°: 30°-60°, 45°-45°, 37°-53°
  • cosec(90° - θ) = sec θ identity appears in 15% of trigonometry questions
Practice MCQs

Complementary Angles — Practice Questions

37graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis · showing 20 of 37

All MCQs →
Practice 1easy

Simplify: sin(48°)·sec(42°) + cos(48°)·csc(42°)

Practice 2easy

If cos(3x) = sin(2x), where both angles are acute, find the value of x.

Practice 3easy

If cos(42°) = a, then sin(48°) equals:

Practice 4easy

Given that sec(α) = 2, find the value of cosec(90° − α).

Practice 5easy

If cos(θ) = sin(3θ), where θ is an acute angle, then θ equals:

Practice 6easy

What is sin(18°) × csc(72°) + cos(18°) × sec(72°)?

Practice 7easy

Simplify: sec(37°) × sin(53°) − cos(37°) × csc(53°)

Practice 8easy

Evaluate: tan(28°) × tan(62°) + sin²(40°) + sin²(50°)

Practice 9easy

If tan(62°) = m, then cot(28°) equals:

Practice 10medium

If sin(3x) = cos(2x) and both angles are acute, what is the value of x in degrees?

Practice 11medium

Given that cos(62°) = sin(x) and sin(28°) = cos(y), where x and y are acute angles, find x + y.

Practice 12medium

If cot(5x + 10°) = tan(3x + 20°), find the value of x.

Practice 13medium

Simplify: sin(42°) × sec(48°) + cos(42°) × csc(48°).

Practice 14medium

If sin(3x) = cos(2x), where 0° < x < 30°, then what is the value of x?

Practice 15medium

Given that tan(28°) × tan(62°) = m, find the value of m.

Practice 16medium

If tan(3α) = cot(2α), where both angles are acute, then what is the value of α?

Practice 17medium

Evaluate: [sin²(25°) + sin²(65°)] / [cos²(25°) + cos²(65°)].

Practice 18medium

If tan(3α) = cot(2α + 15°), where both angles are acute, find the value of α.

Practice 19medium

If cos(θ) = 3/5 and θ is an acute angle, then what is sin(90° − θ)?

Practice 20medium

Given that tan(28°) · tan(62°) = p, what is the value of tan(28°) · tan(28°) · tan(62°) · tan(62°)?

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60-Second Revision — Complementary Angles

  • Remember: Complementary angles add to 90°, not 180°
  • Formula: sin(90° - θ) = cos θ, cos(90° - θ) = sin θ
  • Shortcut: When you see (90° - θ), swap the trigonometric ratio
  • Key pairs: 30°-60°, 45°-45°, 37°-53° appear most frequently
  • Identity: sin²θ + cos²θ = 1 works for all complementary problems
  • Trap: Don't confuse complementary (90°) with supplementary (180°)
  • Quick check: Verify angle sum equals 90° before applying formulas
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