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LESSON 6:
TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITIES
by
Thomas E. Price
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• Table of Contents
• Begin Lesson
1 1 1 sin t
sin t = cos t = tan t = =
csc t sec t cot t cos t .
1 1 1 cos t
csc t = sin t
sec t = cos t
cot t = tan t
= sin t
4
Section 2: The Elementary Identities 5
1
Solution: Since sec t = and cot t = cos
cos t
t
sin t
we have
1 cos t 1
sec t cot t = = = csc t.
cos t sin t sin t
Example 2 Use the reciprocal and quotient formulas to verify
sin t cot t = cos t.
Solution: We have
cos t
sin t cot t = sin t = cos t.
sin t
Section 2: The Elementary Identities 6
1
A function f is odd if f (−x) = −f (x) and even if f (−x) = f (x) for all x in its domain. (See
section 2in section 5for more information about these two properties of functions.
Section 2: The Elementary Identities 7
The next example illustrates an alternate method of proving that the tangent
function is odd.
Example 3 Using the symmetry identities for the sine and cosine functions verify
the symmetry identity tan(−t) = − tan t.
Solution: Armed with theTable 6.1 we have
sin(−t) − sin t
tan(−t) = = = − tan t.
cos(−t) cos t
This strategy can be used to establish other symmetry identities as illustrated in
the following example and in Exercise 1.)
Example 4 The symmetry identity for the tangent function provides an easy method
for verifying the symmetry identity for the cotnagent function. Indeed,
1 1 1
cot(−t) = = =− = − cot t.
tan(−t) − tan t tan t
Section 2: The Elementary Identities 8
The last of the elementary identities covered in this lesson are the Pythagorean
identities2 given in Table 6.3. Again let (x, y) be the point on the unit circle
with center (0, 0) that determines the angle t rad. Replacing x and y by cos t and
sin t respectively in the equation x2 + y 2 = 1 of the unit circle yields the identity3
sin2 t + cos2 t = 1. This is the first of the Pythagorean identities. Dividing this last
equality through by cos2 t gives
sin2 t cos2 t 1
+ =
cos t cos t
2 2 cos2 t
which suggest the second Pythagorean identity tan2 t + 1 = sec2 t. The proof of the
last identity is left to the reader. (See Exercise 2.)
2
These identities are so named because angles formed using the unit circle also describe a right tri-
angle with hypotenuse 1 and sides of length x and y. These identities are an immediate consequence
of the Pythagorean Theorem.
3
The expression sin2 t is used to represent (sin t)2 and should not be confused with the quantity
2
sin t .
Section 2: The Elementary Identities 9
Solution: By first using the Pythagorean identity sin2 t + cos2 t = 1 and then the
factorization 1 − sin2 t = (1 + sin t)(1 − sin t), the following sequence of equalities can
be established:
cos2 t 1 − sin2 t (1 + sin t)(1 − sin t)
= = = 1 + sin t, 1 − sin t 6= 0.
1 − sin t 1 − sin t 1 − sin t
As indicated, the formula is valid as long as 1 − sin t 6= 0 or sin t 6= 1. Since sin t = 1
only when t = π2 + 2kπ where k denotes any integer, the identity is valid on the set
π
< − {t : t = + 2kπ where k is an integer}.
2
Section 2: The Elementary Identities 10
Example 7 Without the use of a calculator determine the value of cos(π/12). (Com-
puting the value of cos(π/12) is not the instructional goal of this example. The
purpose is to provide the reader with some experience using the cosine formula for
the difference of two angles. Being able to derive a correct answer using a comput-
ing device will never serve as a substitute for analytical thinking and understanding
mathematical concepts.)
Solution: Note that
π π π
= − .
12 3 4
Equation 4 and Figure 6.1 yield
π π π
cos = cos( − )
12 3 4
π π π π
= cos cos + sin sin
√3 √4 √ 3 4
1 2 3 2
= +
2√ 2 2 2
2 √
= (1 + 3).
4
Section 3: The sum and difference formulas 16
π
π
π
sin 2
− t = cos t cos 2
− t = sin t tan 2
−t = cot t
π
π
π
cot 2
− t = tan t sec 2
− t = csc t csc 2
− t = sec t
Now we return to the general discussion of sum and difference formulas for the
trigonometric functions. Their derivation uses the formula for the cosine of the dif-
ference of two angles (Equation 4) in conjunction with the symmetry indentities
(Table 6.2). The following sequence of equalities demonstrates this strategy:
cos(α + β) = cos[α − (−β)]
= cos α cos(−β) + sin α sin(−β)
= cos α cos β + sin α(− sin β)
= cos α cos β − sin α sin β.
This establishes the cosine formula for the sum of two angles:
cos(α + β) = cos α cos β − sin α sin β. (6)
Section 3: The sum and difference formulas 20
The sum and difference formulas for the sine and cosine functions are
sin(α + β) = sin α cos β + sin β cos α (7)
sin(α − β) = sin α cos β − sin β cos α. (8)
The proof of the first of these is given below while that for the second is left as an
exercise (Exercise 4). The identity cos π2 − t = sin t in Table 6.4 allows the equality
hπ i
sin(α + β) = cos − (α + β)
h2 π i
= cos − α − β) .
2
Appealing to Equation 4 using the two angles π2 − α and β yields
h π i π π
cos − α − β) = cos − α cos(−β) − sin − α sin(−β)
2 2 2
= sin α cos β − cos α(− sin β)
= sin α cos β + cos α sin β.
The two intermediate steps made use of identities in Table 6.2 and Table 6.4. This
completes the proof.
Section 3: The sum and difference formulas 21
The following example uses the sum formula for the sine function (Equation 7).
Example 10 Without the use of a calculator determine the value of sin(7π/12).
Solution: This problem requires a strategy similar to that used in Example 7. Consider
7π π π
sin = sin( + )
12 3 4
π π π π
= sin cos + sin cos
√ 3√ 4√ 4 3
3 2 21
= +
√2 2 2 2
2 √
= (1 + 3).
4
Example 11 Note that the answers for both Example 7 and Example 10 are the same.
π
Verify this result using a cofucntion identity.
That is, prove
that cos 12 = sin 7π
12
.
π 7π π π 7π 7π
Solution: Consider cos 12 = cos 12 − 2 = cos 2 − 12 = sin 12 . The second step in
the sequence used the fact that cos(−t) = cos t.
Section 3: The sum and difference formulas 22
The sum formulas can be used to establish some of the properties of the trigono-
metric functions discussed in Lesson 2 Section 4 as illustrated in the following example.
Example 12 Use the sum formula for the cosine function (Equation 6) to establish
the identities
cos(t + π) = − cos t and cos(t + 2π) = cos t.
Solution: The sum formula for the cosine function and the values cos π = −1 and
sin π = 0 give
cos(t + π) = cos t cos π − sin t sin π = cos t(−1) − sin t(0) = − cos t.
The last sum and difference formulas to be treated in this tutorial are those for
the tangent function. Consider
sin(α + β) sin α cos β + sin β cos a
tan(α + β) = = .
cos(α + β) cos α cos β − sin α sin β
Dividing the numerator and denominator of this last fraction by sin α cos β yields
sin α cos β sin β cos a
sin α cos β + sin β cos a sin α cos β
+ sin α cos β
tan β
1 + tan α
= cos α cos β sin α sin β
=
cos α cos β − sin α sin β sin α cos β
− sin α cos β cot α − tan β
tan α+tan β tan α+tan β
tan α tan α tan α + tan β
= 1 = = .
tan α
− tan β 1−tan 2β
1 − tan α tan β
tan α
Hence, the sum formula for the tangent function is
tan α + tan β
tan(α + β) = . (9)
1 − tan α tan β
Section 3: The sum and difference formulas 24
11π
Example 13 Determine the value of tan 12 .
Solution: First observe that 11π
12
= 2π3
+ π4 so that
√ √ √
11π 2π π tan 2π
3
+ tan π4 1− 3 1− 31− 3 √
tan = tan + = = √ = √ √ = −2 + 3.
12 3 4 1 − tan 2π3
tan π4 1+ 3 1+ 31− 3
The difference formula for the tangent function is easily derived using the formula
for the tangent of the sum of two angles (Equation 9) and the symmetry identity
tan(−β) = tan β (Table 6.2). Consider
tan(α − β) = tan[α + (−β)]
tan α + tan(−β)
=
1 − tan α tan(−β)
tan α − tan β
= . (10)
1 + tan α tan β
Section 3: The sum and difference formulas 25
5π
Example 14 Determine the value of tan 12 .
Solution: Write 5π
12
= 2π
3
− π4 so that
√ √ √
5π 2π π tan 2π
3
− tan π4 −1 − 3 −1 − 3 1 + 3 √
tan = tan − = = √ = √ √ = 2 + 3.
12 3 4 1 + tan 2π
3
tan π4 1− 3 1− 3 1+ 3
The following table lists the sum and difference formulas presented in this section.
26
Section 4: The double and half angle formulas 27
The double angle formula for the tangent function is an immediate consequence
of the sum formula for that function. Consider
tan(2α) = tan(α + α)
tan α + tan α
=
1 − tan α tan α
2 tan α
= . (15)
1 − tan2 α
The following table summarizes the double angle formulas
The half angle formulas for the sine and cosine functions can be derived from
two of the double angle formulas for the cosine function. Consider the double angle
formula cos(2t) = 2 cos2 t − 1. Solving this for cos2 t gives
1 + cos(2t)
cos2 t = .
2
Taking square roots of both sides of this last equation and replacing t with α2 results
in the half-angle formula for the cosine function:
r
α 1 + cos α
cos = ± . (16)
2 2
The ± in front of the radical is determined by the quadrant in which the angle α2
resides. It is left to the reader (See Exercise 10) to verify that the half angle formula
for the sine function is
r
α 1 − cos α
sin = ± . (17)
2 2
Section 4: The double and half angle formulas 30
The half-angle formulas for the sine and cosine functions provide a means for
establishing a similar identity for the tangent function. To see this construct the
quotient of Equation 17 and Equation 16 to obtain
q
α sin α ± 1−cos2
α
2
tan = = q
2 cos α2 ± 1+cos α
2
s
1−cos α
2
=± 1+cos α
2
r
1 − cos α
=± . (18)
1 + cos α
Once again, the sign of the last expression above is determined by the location of the
angle α2 . There are two additional half-angle formulas for the tangent function. The
derivation of these is left to the reader. (See Exercise 12).
Section 4: The double and half angle formulas 32
Example 17 By Equation 18
◦ r s √ s √
◦ 30 1 − cos 30 ◦ 1 − 3/2 2− 3
tan 15 = tan = = √ = √ .
2 1 + cos 30 ◦ 1 + 3/2 2+ 3
Example 18 A half-angle formula for the cotangent function follows from Equa-
tion 18 since
r
α 1 1 1 + cos α
cot = α = q =± .
2 tan 2 ± 1−cos α 1 − cos α
1+cos α
Hence,
s √
◦ 2+ 3
cot 15 = √ .
2− 3
Section 4: The double and half angle formulas 33
Table 6.7 lists the half angle formulas covered in this lesson.
r
α 1 − cos α
sin 2 = ±
r 2
1 + cos α
cos α2 = ±
r 2
1 − cos α sin α 1 − cos α
tan α2 = ± = = .
1 + cos α 1 + cos α sin α
Table 6.7: The Half Angle Formulas
5. Product Identities and Factor formulas
There are at least three useful trigonometric identities that arise from the sum formu-
las. For example, adding Equation 4 and Equation 6 yields cos(α + β) + cos(α − β) =
2 cos α cos β. Dividing by 2 results in the product formula for the cosine function:
1
cos α cos β = (cos(α + β) + cos(α − β)) . (19)
2
Two additional product formulas are
1
sin α sin β = (cos(α − β) − cos(α + β)) (20)
2
and
1
cos α sin β = (sin(α + β) − sin(α − β)) . (21)
2
The reader should derive the last two product formulas. (See Exercise 14.) Table 6.8
contains a list of the Product Identities.
34
Section 5: Product Identities and Factor formulas 35
The last collection of identities are called the factor formulas (sometimes called
the sum formulas). These are listed in the table below. The development of a strategy
for verifying these formulas is left to the reader (See Exercise 1515).
s+t
s−t
s+t
sin s + sin t = 2 sin 2
cos 2
cos s + cos t = 2 cos 2
cos s−t
2
s+t
s−t
s+t
s−t
sin s − sin t = 2 cos 2
sin 2
cos s − cos t = 2 sin 2
sin 2
36
Section 6: Exercises 37
Exercise 3. Show that cot( π2 −α) = tan α, sec( π2 −α) = csc α, and csc( π2 −α) = sec α.
Solution Using a similar identity for the tangent function we have cot( π2 − α) =
1
tan( π2 −α)
= cot1 α = tan α. Likewise, sec( π2 − α) = cos( π1 −α) = sin1 α = csc α. Of course
2
one could solve these problems using the approach given below for the secant function.
Consider csc α = csc( π2 − ( π2 − α)) = sec( π2 − α). Exercise 3
Solutions to Exercises 42
π
tan t − 1
Exercise 8. Prove that tan t − 4
= .
tan t + 1
Solution: Using the formula for the tangent of the difference of two angles Table 6.5
we get
π tan t − tan π4 tan t − 1
tan t − = π =
4 1 + tan t tan 4 1 + tan t
and the equality follows. Exercise 8
Solutions to Exercises 47
Exercise 10. Verify the half-angle formula for the sine function:
r
α 1 − cos α
sin = ± .
2 2
Solution: We will use a strategy similar to that for deriving Equation 16. We have
cos(2t) = 1 − 2 sin2 t ⇒ 2 sin2 t = 1 − cos(2t). Dividing this last equation through by
2 and then taking the square root of both sides yields
r
1 − cos(2t)
sin t = ± .
2
Replacing t with α2 in this equation yields the desired half-angle formula Equation 17.
Exercise 10
Solutions to Exercises 49
Solution: Use the second and third factor formulas (See Table 6.9.) to write
sin 4t − sin 2t = 2 cos 3t sin t
and
cos 4t + cos 2t = 2 cos 3t cos t.
Then
sin 4t − sin 2t 2 cos 3t sin t sin t
= = = tan t.
cos 4t + cos 2t 2 cos 3t cos t cos t
Exercise 16
Solutions to Exercises 55
Solution: Use the second factor formula (See Table 6.9) and the property that the
sine function is even to write
sin t − sin 3t = 2 cos 2t sin(−t) = −2 cos 2t sin t.
2 2
Since sin t − cos t = − cos 2t, we have
sin t − sin 3t −2 cos 2t sin t
2 = = 2 sin t.
sin t − cos t2 − cos 2t
Exercise 17