JEE Main · Maths · Class 11
Trigonometric Functions: JEE Main previous year questions
114 questions in 85 of the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, asked in 8 of 8 years. Here is what this chapter tests and how.
- Questions
- 114
- in 85 of 108 shifts · 8 of 8 years
- Average a shift
- 1.0
- of 25 Maths · 0.9 since 2024 -0.2
- Typical range
- 0.6–1.3
- questions a shift; fewest 0.5, most 1.7
- Weighted estimate
- 0.9
- model, recent years count more · about 3.7 marks
- Typical range (fact)
- Average a shift (fact)
- Weighted estimate (model)
Questions are counted per shift, out of the 25 each subject has, in the shifts Lumi analysed; papers that offered 30 a subject (2017, 2021–2024) are scaled to 25. Typical range: the middle six of the eight years (2017, 2020–2026), leaving out the single highest and lowest year. The average and the range are historical fact. The weighted estimate is a model: each year's share, with recent years counting more (half-life three years), and chapters NTA dropped from the syllabus set near zero. It is a guide to effort, not a forecast of the paper.
What to do
How to spend time on Trigonometric Functions
Priority
One of the 7 Maths chapters that shared the last fifth of Maths questions in the 108 shifts analysed. How bands are set
- Past questions
- 114in 85 of 108 shifts
- Study plan gives it
- 18 hover 12 months; 13 h over 6
Ideas asked most often
- Quadratic Substitution in Trigonometry12×
- Values of Non-Standard Specific Angles6×
- Compound Angle Formulas5×
- Graphical Root Counting for Mixed Equations4×
- Sine Product Identity with 60 Degrees3×
126 of the 188 ideas in Lumi’s map of this chapter have not been asked or touched in the shifts analysed. Of its idea-tagged questions from 2024 on, 35% tested an idea not asked in an earlier year, so learn the whole chapter, not just the list above.
- Simulation: What one radian looks like
- Simulation: Sine and cosine on the unit circle
- Simulation: All six values from one
- Simulation: The six graphs and their periods
- Simulation: Why sin (A + B) is not sin A + sin B
- Simulation: Allied angles are mirror images
Within each subject, chapters in NTA's 2026 syllabus are ranked by their average questions a shift over all 8 years analysed (history, not the model). Going down that list, the chapters that together held the first half of the subject's questions are Must do; the next ones, up to 80%, are Should do; the rest are Lower priority.
Key findings
Trigonometric Functions at a glance
- 01
65%
of its 26 questions from 2024 on that Lumi matched to an idea tested one JEE Main had asked in an earlier year; 100% came from a topic asked in an earlier year.
- 02
67%
of the 188 ideas in Lumi's map of the chapter have not been asked or touched on in the shifts analysed.
- 03
28%
of its questions asked for a numerical answer, 0.9 times the Maths average.
- 04
25%
of its questions were rated hard, against 26% across all Maths questions in the same shifts.
Questions a shift, year by year
Out of the 25 Maths questions in a shift. Years differ in how many shifts Lumi analysed, so each year is scaled to one shift.
Raw count: 2017: 2 in 1 shift · 2020: 6 in 12 shifts · 2021: 36 in 24 shifts · 2022: 30 in 24 shifts · 2023: 10 in 12 shifts · 2024: 13 in 18 shifts · 2025: 6 in 8 shifts · 2026: 11 in 9 shifts.
Kind of question
SHARE OF QUESTIONS- Multi-step50%
- Numerical answer28%
- Application13%
- Calculation7%
- Data or graph2%
Most common asks: count solutions of trig equation in interval (22); height from angles of elevation (11); sum over solutions of trig equation in interval (3).
Profile
This chapter in numbers
Where it ranks, how steady it is, and what it costs to study.
- Rank, all JEE chapters
- #41
- of 70 by weighted estimate
- Rank in Maths
- #14
- of 21 chapters
- Share of Maths
- 3.9%
- of its questions, all shifts analysed
- Busiest year
- 2017
- 1.7 questions a shift
- Year to year
- Some swing
- varies by about 0.4 questions a shift
- Long-run direction
- -0.06
- questions a shift, per year
- Easy questions
- 6%
- 25% rated hard
- Numerical answer
- 28%
- 0.9× the Maths rate
- With a figure
- 2%
- graph, diagram or structure
- Study time
- 18 h
- 13 h on a 6-month plan
- Marks per study hour
- 0.21
- #63 of 70 chapters
- Foundation for others
- 58%
- of its ideas are used in other chapters
Difficulty, year by year
Each question rated easy, medium or hard. Each bar is that year’s split, so years compare directly; the number is the questions in that year’s analysed shifts (1 to 24 shifts a year).
- 20172
- 20206
- 202136
- 202230
- 202310
- 202413
- 20256
- 202611
- Easy
- Medium
- Hard
What it asks you to do
SHARE OF QUESTIONS- Multi-step70%
- Application17%
- Calculation10%
- Data or graph3%
- Diagram reading1%
Coverage
How much of the chapter JEE Main has used
We split the chapter into 188 ideas. In the 108 shifts analysed, JEE Main built a question around 47 of them. Most of the chapter has never been the main idea of a question, so past questions alone leave most of it out.
- Asked as the main idea
- 47
- Touched on in a question
- 15
- Never asked
- 126
Topics
What repeats, topic by topic
This chapter's questions per topic in each year's analysed shifts. The number is the count; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. 28 questions had no close topic in Lumi's map and count for the chapter only.
- General Solutions · Asked most years41211132553
- Trigonometric Identities · Asked most years3212983414
- Properties of Triangles · Comes in cycles73121
- Maxima and Minima · Asked most years211
- AP and GP · Asked most years11
- Dot Product · Asked most years11
- Functions and Domain · Asked most years11
- Straight Line Distance · Asked most years11
| Topic | 2017 | ’20 | 2021 | ’22 | 2023 | ’24 | 2025 | ’26 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General SolutionsAsked most years | · | 2 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 41 |
| Trigonometric IdentitiesAsked most years | 1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 32 |
| Properties of TrianglesComes in cycles | · | · | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | · | · | 7 |
| Maxima and MinimaAsked most years | · | · | 1 | · | · | · | · | 1 | 2 |
| AP and GPAsked most years | · | · | 1 | · | · | · | · | · | 1 |
| Dot ProductAsked most years | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 1 | 1 |
| Functions and DomainAsked most years | · | · | · | · | · | 1 | · | · | 1 |
| Straight Line DistanceAsked most years | · | · | 1 | · | · | · | · | · | 1 |
- General Solutions
As a topic: 42 questions in 7 of 8 years, most often single correct, 36% numerical answer.
- Trigonometric Identities
As a topic: 36 questions in 8 of 8 years, most often single correct, 22% numerical answer.
- Properties of Triangles
As a topic: 11 questions in 4 of 8 years, most often single correct, 36% numerical answer.
- Maxima and Minima
As a topic: 80 questions in 8 of 8 years, most often single correct, 26% numerical answer. Recent asks: integer values for trigonometric equation solvability; numerical: max of trig expression on interval; determine polynomial from extrema and limit.
Drill down
Topic, idea, question
Open a topic to see every idea JEE Main tested inside it, then open an idea to read the questions. Each row shows its 8 years.
22 ideas inside
- 4 Apr ’26 S1 · Q24Let and , where ,…
hardNumerical value
- 8 Apr ’26 S2 · Q21The sum of squares of all the real solutions of the equation is equal to…
mediumNumerical value
- 5 Apr ’24 S1 · Q20Suppose is a solution of . Then is equal to :
mediumSingle correct
- 8 Apr ’24 S1 · Q20If , where , then is equal to
easySingle correct
- 6 Apr ’23 S1 · Q19Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 11 Apr ’23 S2 · Q19Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 15 Apr ’23 S1 · Q30Read the question
hardNumerical value
- 25 Jul ’22 S1 · Q19Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 27 Jul ’22 S1 · Q15Read the question
hardSingle correct
- 27 Jul ’22 S2 · Q18Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 28 Jul ’22 S2 · Q78Read the question
hardSingle correct
- 29 Jul ’22 S1 · Q11Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 30 Jul ’22 S2 · Q79Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 28 Jun ’22 S1 · Q19Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 29 Jun ’22 S2 · Q18Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 3 Aug ’21 S1 · Q79Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 3 Aug ’21 S2 · Q89Read the question
mediumNumerical value
- 4 Aug ’21 S1 · Q79Read the question
hardSingle correct
- 27 Aug ’21 S2 · Q80Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 31 Aug ’21 S1 · Q79Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 24 Feb ’21 S1 · Q79Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 24 Feb ’21 S2 · Q75Read the question
easySingle correct
- 25 Feb ’21 S1 · Q79Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 25 Jul ’21 S1 · Q73Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 18 Mar ’21 S1 · Q90Read the question
mediumNumerical value
- 4 Sep ’20 S2 · Q69Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 6 Sep ’20 S2 · Q69Read the question
mediumSingle correct
- 2017 · Q89Read the question
mediumSingle correct
Squares are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026. A number is the questions that year when there is more than one; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. Share is of the level above.
Ideas
The exact ideas JEE Main has asked
Inside the topics, 43 different ideas were tested; 17 came more than once. These are the repeats, then the ideas new since 2024.
count solutions of trig equation in interval
product of parameter range and trig value
trigonometric value from roots of quadratic
count solutions of trig equation in interval
evaluate trig value from product of sines
count solutions of modulus trig equation
count solutions of trig equation in interval
integer values for trigonometric equation solvability
simplify trigonometric expression to constant
count solutions of trig equation in interval
range of trig function then gp sum
product of cosines with doubling angles
maximise angle ratio in right-angled figure
simplify trigonometric product to constant
sum of trig equation solutions in interval
value of product of sines of multiples of pi/8
maximum of trigonometric product under constraint
sum of solutions of trig equation in interval
telescoping sum of trig terms
eliminate parameter from tangent expressions
count solutions of trig equation in interval
sum of angles where triple-angle cosine is maximum
triangle sides from cosine rule then multiple angle
count trig solutions then locate quadratic roots
tangent of solution of linear trig equation
Dots are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026.
Every question
All 114 Trigonometric Functions questions
Newest first, shift by shift. The newest 40 show their opening words; older ones name the idea they tested. Each opens with its options and the official answer.
JEE Main 202611 questions
- 2 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q11If , then the value of…MediumSingle correct
- 2 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q12Let . Then is equal to :HardSingle correct
- 2 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q13Let and…MediumSingle correct
- 2 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q16Two adjacent sides of a parallelogram are given by and . If the side…MediumSingle correct
- 4 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q23If and…MediumNumerical value
- 4 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q24Let and , where ,…HardNumerical value
- 5 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q6Let , , where , be the roots of the quadratic equation…MediumSingle correct
- 5 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q12The sum of all the integral values of such that the equation , , has at least one…MediumSingle correct
- 5 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q23If , then n(S) is equal to…HardNumerical value
- 6 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q14Let . Then is equal to:MediumSingle correct
- 8 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q21The sum of squares of all the real solutions of the equation is equal to…MediumNumerical value
JEE Main 20256 questions
- 2 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q3If , then the number of solutions of , is equal to :MediumSingle correct
- 2 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q13If , then the number of solutions of…MediumSingle correct
- 3 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q10The number of solutions of the equation , is:MediumSingle correct
- 3 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q13The number of solutions of the equation…HardSingle correct
- 7 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q1If for , the points…MediumSingle correct
- 7 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q14The number of solutions of the equation in…HardSingle correct
JEE Main 202413 questions
- 5 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q20Suppose is a solution of . Then is equal to :MediumSingle correct
- 5 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q21The number of solutions of , where , is ________.HardNumerical value
- 6 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q30In a triangle , , , and . If , where…MediumNumerical value
- 8 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q20If , where , then is equal toEasySingle correct
- 8 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q21If the range of , is , then…MediumNumerical value
- 8 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q20If the value of is , where a, b, c are…MediumSingle correct
- 9 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q20Let , . Then, the sum of all…MediumSingle correct
- 1 Feb 2024, Shift 2 · Q20The number of solutions of the equation ; is :HardSingle correct
- 27 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q30Let the set of all such that the equation has a solution be and…HardNumerical value
- 29 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q20If is the solution of , then the value of isMediumSingle correct
- 30 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q20If has exactly 3 solutions in the interval , , then the roots…HardSingle correct
- 30 Jan 2024, Shift 2 · Q11For , let and a real number be such that…MediumSingle correct
- 31 Jan 2024, Shift 2 · Q2The number of solutions, of the equation , is :MediumSingle correct
JEE Main 202310 questions
- 6 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q19From the top A of a vertical wall AB of height 30 m, the angles of depression of the top P and bottom Q of a vertical tower PQ are…MediumSingle correct
- 6 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q30The value of is ___________.HardNumerical value
- 8 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q19The value of isHardSingle correct
- 10 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q19 is equal toMediumSingle correct
- 10 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q2Let and…MediumSingle correct
- 10 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q30In the figure, and . If the area of is …HardNumerical valueHas a figure
- 11 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q16The number of elements in the set isMediumSingle correct
- 11 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q19The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from the feet of one person standing due South of the tower is and from the…MediumSingle correct
- 12 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q19In a triangle ABC, if and the lengths of the sides opposite to the angles A and C are and respectively,…HardSingle correct
- 15 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q30If the line intersects the line , where are the angles of a…HardNumerical value
JEE Main 202230 questions
- 25 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q18Modulus Trigonometric Equations · Easy · Single correct
- 25 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q19Open the question · Medium · Single correct
- 25 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q19Product of Cosines with Doubling Angles · Hard · Single correct
- 26 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q18Quadratic Substitution in Trigonometry · Hard · Single correct
- 26 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q25Simultaneous Trigonometric Equations · Medium · Numerical value
- 27 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q15Open the question · Hard · Single correct
- 27 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q18Open the question · Medium · Single correct
- 27 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q19Telescopic Trigonometric Series · Hard · Single correct
- 28 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q78Open the question · Hard · Single correct
- 28 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q87Tangent General Solution · Hard · Numerical value
- 29 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q11Open the question · Medium · Single correct
- 29 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q21Higher Power Reduction Identities · Hard · Numerical value
- 29 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q12AM-GM Inequality Bounds in Trig Equations · Medium · Single correct
- 30 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q79Open the question · Medium · Single correct
- 24 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q19Domain Restricted Solutions · Medium · Single correct
- 24 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q13Product-to-Sum Transformation · Medium · Single correct
- 25 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q3Inradius and Circumradius · Medium · Single correct
- 25 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q25Reciprocal Function Conversion · Medium · Numerical value
- 25 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q15Values of Non-Standard Specific Angles · Medium · Single correct
- 26 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q26Sine Product Identity with 60 Degrees · Hard · Numerical value
- 26 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q18Sine Product Identity with 60 Degrees · Easy · Single correct
- 27 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q18Trigonometric Sums via Roots of Unity · Medium · Single correct
- 27 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q19Values of Non-Standard Specific Angles · Hard · Single correct
- 28 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q19Open the question · Medium · Single correct
- 28 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q20Compound Angle Formulas · Easy · Single correct
- 29 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q24Quadratic Substitution in Trigonometry · Medium · Numerical value
- 29 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q25Graphical Root Counting for Mixed Equations · Medium · Numerical value
- 29 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q18Open the question · Medium · Single correct
- 29 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q24Quadratic Substitution in Trigonometry · Medium · Numerical value
- 30 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q30Periodic Root Scaling in Large Intervals · Hard · Numerical value
JEE Main 202136 questions
- 3 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q79Open the question · Medium · Single correct
- 3 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q90Graphical Root Counting · Medium · Numerical value
- 3 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q79Trigonometric Bounds and Inequalities · Hard · Single correct
- 3 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q89Open the question · Medium · Numerical value
- 4 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q66Trigonometric Series with Angles in AP · Hard · Single correct
- 4 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q79Open the question · Hard · Single correct
- 4 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q90Compound Angle Formulas · Medium · Numerical value
- 4 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q79Modulus Trigonometric Equations · Medium · Single correct
- 26 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q71Modulus Trigonometric Equations · Hard · Single correct
- 26 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q69Perpendicular distance from point · Medium · Single correct · has a figure
- 26 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q80Product to Sum Formulas · Medium · Single correct
- 27 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q74Sine Rule Application · Medium · Single correct
- 27 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q80Open the question · Medium · Single correct
- 27 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q89Fourth Power Identity Application · Medium · Numerical value
- 31 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q77Values of Non-Standard Specific Angles · Medium · Single correct
- 31 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q79Open the question · Medium · Single correct
- 31 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q78Quadratic Substitution in Trigonometry · Medium · Single correct
- 24 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q65Infinite GP Sum · Medium · Single correct
- 24 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q79Open the question · Medium · Single correct
- 24 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q86Optimization via AM-GM Inequality · Medium · Numerical value
- 24 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q75Open the question · Easy · Single correct
- 25 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q77Trigonometric Inequality Intervals · Medium · Single correct
- 25 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q79Open the question · Medium · Single correct
- 25 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q77Trigonometric Bounds and Inequalities · Medium · Single correct
- 26 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q86Parametric Solvability Conditions · Easy · Numerical value
- 26 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q89Quadratic Substitution in Trigonometry · Easy · Numerical value
- 22 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q62Boundedness and Range Analysis · Medium · Single correct
- 25 Jul 2021, Shift 1 · Q73Open the question · Medium · Single correct
- 25 Jul 2021, Shift 1 · Q80Sum-to-Product Factorization · Medium · Single correct
- 25 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q73Values of Non-Standard Specific Angles · Medium · Single correct
- 16 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q82Inradius and Circumradius · Medium · Numerical value
- 17 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q79Graphical Root Counting for Mixed Equations · Medium · Single correct
- 17 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q82Triple Angle Formulas · Hard · Numerical value
- 18 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q90Open the question · Medium · Numerical value
- 18 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q61High Power Reduction Identities · Medium · Single correct
- 18 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q63Inradius and Circumradius · Medium · Single correct
JEE Main 20206 questions
- 8 Jan 2020, Shift 2 · Q75Compound Angle Formulas · Medium · Numerical value
- 9 Jan 2020, Shift 1 · Q69Product to Sum Formulas · Medium · Single correct
- 9 Jan 2020, Shift 1 · Q72Logarithmic Trigonometric Equations · Medium · Numerical value
- 2 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q69Fourth Power Identity Application · Medium · Single correct
- 4 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q69Open the question · Medium · Single correct
- 6 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q69Open the question · Medium · Single correct
JEE Main 20172 questions
Questions from the official JEE Main papers published by NTA. Chapter, topic and idea tags, counts and notes are Lumi’s. Pattern: Asked most years.