Throughout this section you will learn basic Trigonometric

Identities: Reciprocal Identities, Pythagorean Identities and Quotient

Identities. By learning the three above noted identities, you will then
learn how to Prove Identities. Every topic links together to make it
more comprehensible. Trigonometric Identities are just a section of
Trigonometry. The Law of Cosines, the Law of Sines, the
Pythagorean Theorem and Right Angle Triangles each play a
part in learning identities.
.
TRIGONOMETRY
Discovered in the 17th century and is derived from the Latin
word trigonometria. This is defined as the study of the Triangle and
of the relationships between the angles and sides of a triangle, plus
the deduction of certain components of the triangle when others are
known.
TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITES
This comes from the basics of trigonometry, dealing with the
relations of the sides and angles of triangles. Each trigonometric
identity has a reciprocal identity.
IDENTITIES
Discovered in the 16th century and comes from the Latin word
Identitas, which are equations that are true for all values of the
variable for which they are defined.
Now that we know the definition for Trigonometr(y)/ (ic)
Identities, we can move onto trigonometric functions. For most
trigonometric functions the three functions, Sine, Cosine and
Tangent are used most frequently. Throughout this unit of
Trigonometric Identities, three more functions are added, Cotangent,
Secant and Cosecant. There are six ways of making ratios of two
sides of a right angle. So, remember each identity has a reciprocal
identity. As long as you can remember that, then learning the
identities will not be difficult.
a chart of the six functions and their values.

Identity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

SinA=
CosA=
TanA=
CotA=
SecA=
CscA=

Letter from Triangle

a/c
b/c
a/b
b/a
c/b
c/a

Position on Triangle
Opposite/ Hypotenuse
Adjacent/ Hypotenuse
Opposite/ Adjacent
Adjacent/ Opposite
Hypotenuse/ Adjacent
Hypotenuse/ Opposite

All reciprocal identities are, are the six identities and what each
one equals. Once you remember one, the other is just the opposite.
Below we have a chart of the reciprocal identities.
Sinx= 1
cscx

Reciprocal

Cscx= 1
sinx

Cosx= 1
secx

Reciprocal

Sec= 1
cosx

Tanx= 1
Cotx

Reciprocal

Cotx= 1
tanx

Do you see the similarities? Congratulations, these are the Reciprocal

Identities.
Next are Quotient Identities. All the identities are based on Sine
and Cosine. These can come in handy when proving identities.
Below are the two quotient identities. These identities have two
meanings each. One, the quotient identity and the other, the
reciprocal identities.
Tanx= sinx
cosx

Cotx= cosx
sinx

The following are the Pythagorean Identities, which come from the
Pythagorean Theorem. The Pythagorean Theorem is solving right
angle triangles and an unknown side. This formula looks as:
a2 + b2 = c2
Now if you look back to the chart of the six functions and their values
you can see from the triangle where a, b and c come from. C
in this equation is equal to the hypotenuse. This then translates very
easily into a Pythagorean Identity for sines and cosines. Divide both
sides by c2 and you will receive.
a2/ c2 + b2/ c2 = 1
a2/ c2 = Sin2x and b2/ c2 = Cos2x.
The Pythagorean Identity for sines and cosines is:
sin2x + cos2x = 1
Therefore to figure out the next two Pythagorean Identities is very
easy. Simply divide each term by a new letter rather than just c.
You will divide by a and b. When dividing a letter by itself, it
then equals one.
Here goes:
a2 + b2 = c2
a2/ a2 = 1

b2/ a2 = cot2x

c2/ a2 = csc2x

Now if you look in the chart of the six functions, you see how we
came up with naming b/a and c/a. Look under Letter from
Triangle.
The Pythagorean Identity for cotangent and cosecant is:
1 + cot2x = csc2x
Now repeat for the letter B.
a2 + b2 = c2

a2/ b2 = tan2x

b2/ b2 = 1

c2/ b2 = sec2x

The Pythagorean Identity for tangent and secant is:

1 + tan2x = sec2x
Now you have completed the Pythagorean Identities.
In the above equations x is a variable. When using a value for x, it
can be in either degrees or radians for the equation to hold true.

Now these degrees or radians can come from the Unit Circle
which is the fundamental ideas needed to understand sines and
cosines.

Example
This is related to the Pythagorean Theorem.
Sinx =y =y
1

Cosx = x
1

Now we know that sin2 x + cos2 x = 1

This is where the Pythagorean Theorem comes into play. You will
recognize this equation of Pythagorean Identity for cosine and sine.
Now this is where things could get tricky. Solving all the different
equations. Dont worry as long as you read each step carefully and
take your time youll be fine.
Okay, lets begin.
Recipricol Identities

You should remember what these are, if not, just scroll back up to
the beginning where there is an explanation.

Start o with the easier explanations then work your way up to the
harder ones.

Sinx= 1
cscx

Reciprocal

Cscx= 1
sinx

Cosx= 1
secx

Reciprocal

Sec= 1
cosx

Tanx= 1
cotx

Reciprocal

Cotx= 1
tanx

Examples
1. Express each of the following terms into sinx or cosx or both
a) 1 = cosx
secx
Looking at this, you can look at the chart and see that the
recipricol identity is cosx
b) sin2 x + 1

= sin2 x + cos2 x = 1

This equation involves a little bit of the Pythagorean

Identity in the end. First of all, you dont have to change sin2 x
because we want the term to be in sinx or cosx or both. Now, you
know that sec2 x is equal to cos2 x. If it is originally squared, leave
it squared. Now, you are left with sin x + cos x, this is where
Pythagorean comes into play. If you look at the chart, sin2 x + cos2
x = 1. One is the final answer.
c)

tanx cosx = sinx cosx = sinx

cosx

Now, with this equation, a quotient identity is involved.

Can you guess which one? Yes, tan. You will use the
quotient identity because you are trying to work with
cosines and sines. The usual reciprocal for tan equal 1
but using

cotx
quotient identities it is equal to sinx . Then you are left
cosx
with sinx cosx. You are dealing with multiplying this time.
cosx
Before you start multiplying, you will see that you can
cancel out the two cosines, because when multiplying there
are identical terms that will cancel out. Now, you are left
with just sinx.
d)

csc2 x = 1 / cos2 x = 1
* sin2 x = 1
cot2 x sin2 x sin2 x
sin2 x
cos2 x
cos2 x

Now, it gets a little more confusing. Again, we are having to

use a quotient identity. Now the reciprocal of
csc2 x = 1
sin2 x
Remember to leave it squared. Next cot2 x = cos2 x.
sin2 x
this is the quotient identity. When dividing, you take the
second term and flip it and now change the dividing sign to
a multiplication sign. Now, you can cancel out the sin x and
we are left with 1
cos2 x
e) sec2 x tan2 x = 1
cos x

- sin2 x =1 sin2x = cos2 x = 1

cos2 x
cos2 x cos2 x

This equation involves Pythagorean and quotient as well as

reciprocal. The reciprocal to sec x is 1 and the quotient
cos2 x
identity is sin2 x. Now when subtracting, you work straight
cos2 x
across, 1 sin2 x equals 1 sin2 x. The denominator for this
equation is cos2 x because you leave the denominator the
same when the two terms are identical. Now as you look at
Pythagorean Identities, you can see that 1 sin2 x equals
cos2 x. You have to rearrange the equation. You must bring
sin2 x over to the side of one. When switching sides, you
switch signs. We are now left with cos2 x whichequals one.
cos2
x

Wow! You have just completed reciprocal identities with a little of

the other identities involved.
Next is Quotient Identities and if you dont understand what these
are, just scroll back up to the beginning and read the explanation.
Quotient Identities
tanx = sinx
cosx

cotx = cosx
sinx

So here you are only dealing with two identities, therefore you
will see these identities combined with the other ones.
Examples
1. Each of the following can be expressed in terms of sinx or cosx
or both.
a) cot2 x = cos2 x
sin2 x
If you look at the chart, you will see that cot x is equal to,
2

cos x
sin2
x
remember to keep them squared.
b) 1 + cot2 x = csc2 x = 1 / cos2 x = 1 * sin2 x = 1
cot2 x
cot2 x sin2 x sin2 x sin2 x cos2 x cos2 x
Here you are dealing with the quotient identity and
also the reciprocal identity and the Pythagorean Identity. If
you look at the chart, you will see that
1 + cot2 x is equal to csc2 x, which is also equal to 1 in
the reciprocal identities.
sin2 x
Remember that cot2x is equal to cos2x.
sin2 x
Flip the second term and switch the dividing sign to a
multiplying sign. Also when you have identical terms that

are opposite to each other, you can cancel them out. Now
you are left with
1
cos2 x
c) 1 + tanx = 1 + sinx / 1 = cosx + sinx * cosx = cosx+sinx
secx
cosx
cosx
cosx
1
The quotient identity of tanx is

sinx.
cosx

The reciprocal identity of secx is 1

cosx
Again, you can flip the second term and switch the dividing
sign into a multiplication sign. The two cosx cancel out
because they are opposites. Now you are left with cosx +
sinx.
d) Write each of the following terms of cosx.
cotx sinx = cosx
sinx

sinx = cosx

The quotient identity for cotx is cosx

sinx
Leave sinx the same so you can cancel the two signs out
because they are opposite (one on top and one on bottom).
When they are cancelled, you are left with cosx.
Now we will move onto the Pythagorean Identities. You can
rewrite each Pythagorean Identity by changing the signs and the
terms to the opposite sides.
Pythagorean Identities
sin2 x + cos2 x = 1
1 + tan2 x = sec2 x
1 + cot2 x = csc2 x

Examples

An example of changing the equation around

sin2 x + cos2 x = 1 (which can also be written as) 1 sin2 x = cos2 x
What was done here was to move sin2 x onto the other side. The
sign was changed to a negative.
Now examples of equations:
1. Express each of the following in terms of sinx or cosx or both
a) 1 csc2 x = cot2 x
To find out what 1 csc2 x equals, you look at the chart of
Pythagorean Identities and for this one you must
rearrange the equation 1 + cot2 x = csc2 x.
b)

tanx = sinx
1 + tanx cosx + sinx

sinx / cosx + sinx = sinx

cosx
cosx
cosx
sinx

cosx
=
sinx
cosx + sinx
cosx +

For this equation, you found the quotient identity for tanx
that equals sin2 x
You must also use quotient identities
cos2 x
c) cotx = cosx / sinx + cosx = cosx * sinx
= cosx
1 + cotx sinx
sinx
sinx
sinx+cosx
sinx+cosx
This equation resembles the one above. You are again
dividing with quotient identities. You found the quotient
identity for cotx which equals cosx and found
1 + tanx
sinx
which is equal to cosx and one equals sinx because of the
sinx
denominator. Again take the second term and flip it and
change the division sign to a multiplication sign Then

cancel the sinx out because of the opposite sides. You are
now left with
cosx
sinx + cosx
How To Prove Identities
You can now begin to prove Identities. Proving identities is a
variety of the three previously mentioned identities. There is not a
specific formula but rather you work with the reciprocal
identities, the Pythagorean theorem and the quotient identities to
change the terms around so you end up with two identical terms.
Proving Identities can be a little difficult but once you get the
hang of it, it will be very easy. Go through each step one at a time
and analyse the term(s) carefully. If you have, any problems dont
forget to look at the different charts to find helpful hints.
Examples
1. cosx cscx = cotx
cosx

1 = cosx
sinx
sinx

cosx = cosx
sinx
sinx
What was done was to show that cosx cscx was equal to cotx. Then
the reciprocal for cscx which is 1 was found.
sinx
The quotient identity for cotx was used. Then cosx was multiplied
by 1 which was equal to cosx over sinx. The two equations were
then equal.
2. cosx - sinx = sinx 1
cscx tanx
secx
cosx / 1 - sin / sinx = sinx 1
sinx
cosx
secx

cosx

sinx - sinx cosx = sinx 1

1
sinx secx

cosx sinx - cos = sinx 1

secx
sinx - 1 = sinx 1
secx secx
secx
sinx 1 = sinx 1
secx
secx
You began with finding the reciprocal to cscx which is 1 .
sinx
Next, find the quotient identity for tanx which is sinx
cosx
Then flip the second term in each equation. Change the
division signs to multiplication signs. Then multiply cosx by
sinx and you are left with cosx sinx. When looking at the next
terms, you can see that you can cancel out the sinxs because
they are opposites. Now you are left with cosx sinx cosx. For
each cosx, use the reciprocal identity 1
When multiplying sinx by 1, you get sinx. You are
secx
then left with sinx - 1 . Then when you subtract, you are
secx secx
left with sinx 1. Always leave the denominator. The two sides
secx
are equal.
3.(1 secx) (1 + secx) = - tan2 x
1 sec2 x = - tan2 x
- tan2 x = - tan2 x
For this example, you are expanding using difference of
squares:
1 x 1 = 1; 1 x secx = secx; - secx x 1 = -secx. The two secx cancel.
- secx x secx = sec x. You are now left with 1 sec x which, if
you refer to the Pythagorean Identities, is equal to tan x.
3. six2 x cot2 x + cos2 x = 1

cot2 x
sin2 x cos2 x + cos2 x
sin2 x

cos2 x = 1
sin2 x = 1

cos 2x + cos2 x * sin2 x

cos2 x

= 1

cos x + sin2 x =1
1=1
What was done here was to find the quotient identity for cot2 x,
which is cos2 x. The first section of the equation was
sin2 x
multiplied therefore you could cancel out the two sin x because
they were opposite. Now, for the second part of the equation.
You flip the second terms and then you can cancel out the two
cos2 x because they are opposite. Now you are left with cos2 x +
sin2 x which if you look at the Pythagorean Theorem chart you
see that this is equal to 1.
1 is the final answer.

Trig Identity Examples

Prove each of the following Identities
1.
tan x cos = sinx
sinx/cos x cos = sinx
sinx = sinx
2.
secx +1/cotx =1+sinx/cosx
1/cosx+1/cotx=1+sinx/cosx
1+sinx/cosx=1+sinx/cosx
3.
secx/sinx=1/sinx+1/cosx
secx/sinx=1/sinx+secx/1
secx/sinx=secx/sinx
4.

cos x cscx=cotx
cosx/1 x 1/sinx=cotx
cosx/sinx=cotx
cotx = cotx
5.
(1+cosx)(1-cosx)=sin2x
1-cosx+cosx -cos2x = sin2
1-cos2x = sin2x
sin2x = sin2
6.
sinx(sin2x + csc x cos2)=1
sinx(sin2x + cosx/sinx)=1
sin2x + cos2x =1
1=1
7.
sin2 x sec x cscx=tan
sin2x/1 x 1/cos x 1/sinx=tanx
sinx/cosx=tanx
tanx=tanx
8.
(1-secx)(1+secx)=-tan2x
1-sec2x = -tan2x
1-1/cos2x = -tan2
cos2x/cos2x -1/cos2x = -tan2
-sin2/cos2=-tan2
-tan2x = -tan2
9.
1-tanx/tanx =cosx-sinx/sinx
1/tan -1=cosx-sinx/sinx
1/sinx/cosx-1=cosx-sinx/sinx
cox/sinx-sinx/sinx=cosx-sinx/sinx
cosx-sinx/sinx=cosx-sinx/sinx
10.
sin3 x cos2 x = cos2 x sinx - cos4 x sinx
sin3 x cos2x =cos2 x sinx (1-cos2x)
sin3 x cos2x = sin2x sin x sin2x
sin3 x cos2x = sin3 x cos2x
11.

secx/cotx = sinx/cos2
1/cos x sinx/cosx = sinx/cos2
sinx/cos2x = sinx/cos2x
12.
sinx/cosx sinx/cosx=tan2
sin2x/cos2 x = tan2
tan2=tan2
13.
(cosx/secx-1)-cosx/tan2
(cosx/secx-1)-cosx/(secx-1)(secx+1)=cosx/secx-1 x secx+1/secx+1
cos x secx+cosx-cosx/tan2
1/tan2x =cot2
cot2=cot2

14.
sins/cosx x cosx/sinx +1= 2
1+1=2
2=2
15.
1/(sin x cosx)-cosx/sinx=tanx
1-cos2x/(sin x cosx)=tanx
sin2x/(sin x cosx)=tanx
tanx=tanx

Quiz Questions
Prove the following identities
1.
(secx/sinx)-(sinx/cosx)=cotx
2.
1/(1+cosx)=csc2x-cscx cotx
3.

csc2x-cos2x csc2x=1
4.
cot2 csc2 cot2=cot4
5.
(secx+1)(secx-1)=tan2x

Web Sites For Further Help With Trigonometric Identities

1. http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca
Go to W. Joan Wells and go into her website.
2. http://mathforum.org/dr.math/
Go to High School then go to Trigonometry. Then scroll down the
page to whatever you need help with.
3. http://library.thinkquest.org/17119/
Search throughout this unit and it will show you how to prove
Identities.