You should know everything that is highlighted.

Trig Cheat Sheet

Definition of the Trig Functions
Right triangle definition
For this definition we assume that
p
0 < q < or 0 < q < 90 .
2

Unit circle definition

For this definition q is any angle.
y

( x, y )
hypotenuse

opposite

q
x

q
adjacent
opposite
hypotenuse
adjacent
cos q =
hypotenuse
opposite
tan q =
adjacent

sin q =

hypotenuse
opposite
hypotenuse
sec q =
adjacent
adjacent
cot q =
opposite
csc q =

y
=y
1
x
cos q = = x
1
y
tan q =
x

sin q =

1
y
1
sec q =
x
x
cot q =
y
csc q =

Facts and Properties

Domain
The domain is all the values of q that
can be plugged into the function.
sin q , q can be any angle
cos q , q can be any angle
1

tan q , q n + p , n = 0, 1, 2,K
2

csc q , q n p , n = 0, 1, 2,K
1

sec q , q n + p , n = 0, 1, 2,K
2

cot q , q n p , n = 0, 1, 2,K

Range
The range is all possible values to get
out of the function.
csc q 1 and csc q -1
-1 sin q 1
-1 cos q 1 sec q 1 and sec q -1
- < tan q <
- < cot q <

Period
The period of a function is the number,
T, such that f (q + T ) = f (q ) . So, if w
is a fixed number and q is any angle we
have the following periods.
2p
w
2p
=
w
p
=
w
2p
=
w
2p
=
w
p
=
w

sin ( wq )

T=

cos (wq )

tan (wq )

csc (wq )

sec (wq )

cot (wq )

2005 Paul Dawkins

Formulas and Identities

This is
possibly
the
most
used
identity
in all of
calc!

Tangent and Cotangent Identities

sin q
cos q
tan q =
cot q =
cos q
sin q
Reciprocal Identities
1
1
csc q =
sin q =
sin q
csc q
1
1
sec q =
cos q =
cos q
sec q
1
1
cot q =
tan q =
tan q
cot q
Pythagorean Identities
sin 2 q + cos 2 q = 1
tan 2 q + 1 = sec 2 q
1 + cot 2 q = csc 2 q
Even/Odd Formulas
sin ( -q ) = - sin q
csc ( -q ) = - csc q
cos ( -q ) = cos q

sec ( -q ) = sec q

tan ( -q ) = - tan q

cot ( -q ) = - cot q

Periodic Formulas
If n is an integer.
sin (q + 2p n ) = sin q

csc (q + 2p n ) = csc q

cos (q + 2p n ) = cos q sec (q + 2p n ) = sec q

tan (q + p n ) = tan q

cot (q + p n ) = cot q

Double Angle Formulas

Knowing
these will
come in
handy when
we start
integrating
trig
functions.

sin ( 2q ) = 2sin q cos q

cos ( 2q ) = cos 2 q - sin 2 q
= 2 cos 2 q - 1
= 1 - 2sin 2 q
2 tan q
tan ( 2q ) =
1 - tan 2 q
Degrees to Radians Formulas
If x is an angle in degrees and t is an
angle in radians then
p
t
px
180t
=
t=
and x =
180 x
180
p

Half Angle Formulas

1
sin 2 q = (1 - cos ( 2q ) )
2
1
cos 2 q = (1 + cos ( 2q ) )
2
1 - cos ( 2q )
tan 2 q =
1 + cos ( 2q )
Sum and Difference Formulas
sin (a b ) = sin a cos b cos a sin b
cos (a b ) = cos a cos b m sin a sin b
tan a tan b
1 m tan a tan b
Product to Sum Formulas
1
sin a sin b = cos (a - b ) - cos (a + b )
2
1
cos a cos b = cos (a - b ) + cos (a + b )
2
1
sin a cos b = sin (a + b ) + sin (a - b )
2
1
cos a sin b = sin (a + b ) - sin (a - b )
2
Sum to Product Formulas
a + b
a - b
sin a + sin b = 2sin
cos

2
2
a + b a - b
sin a - sin b = 2 cos
sin

2 2
a + b
a - b
cos a + cos b = 2 cos
cos

2
2
a + b a - b
cos a - cos b = -2sin
sin

2 2
Cofunction Formulas
tan (a b ) =

sin - q = cos q
2

csc - q = sec q
2

cos - q = sin q
2

sec - q = csc q
2

tan - q = cot q
2

cot - q = tan q
2

2005 Paul Dawkins

You need to know the unit circle!

PRO TIPS
1. If you know your 30,60,90 and 45,45,90 triangles, you know the 1st quadrant.
2. If you know the 1st quadrant, you know the other three by symmetry.

Unit Circle
y

p
2

1 3
- ,
2 2

2 2
,

2
2

3 1
- ,
2 2

( -1,0 )

3p
4

5p
6

( 0,1)

2p
3

p
3

90
120

1 3
,
2 2

p
4

60
45

135

30

p
6

3 1
,
2 2

150

p 180

3 1
- ,-
2
2

2 2
,

2 2

7p
6

2
2
,
2
2

210

360

2p

330
225

5p
4

4p
3

240

1
3
- ,
2 2

315
7p
300
270
4
5p
3p
3
2

11p
6

(1,0 )

3 1
,-
2 2

2
2
,

2
2

1
3
,
2 2

( 0,-1)

For any ordered pair on the unit circle ( x, y ) : cos q = x and sin q = y
Example
5p
cos
3

1
=
2

5p
sin
3

=2

2005 Paul Dawkins

Inverse Trig Functions

Definition
y = sin -1 x is equivalent to x = sin y

Inverse Properties
cos ( cos -1 ( x ) ) = x
cos -1 ( cos (q ) ) = q

y = cos -1 x is equivalent to x = cos y

y = tan -1 x is equivalent to x = tan y
Domain and Range
Function
Domain
y = sin -1 x
-1

-1 x 1

y = cos x

-1 x 1

y = tan -1 x

- < x <

sin ( sin -1 ( x ) ) = x

sin -1 ( sin (q ) ) = q

tan ( tan -1 ( x ) ) = x

tan -1 ( tan (q ) ) = q

Alternate Notation
sin -1 x = arcsin x

Range
p
p
- y
2
2
0 y p
p
p
- < y<
2
2

cos -1 x = arccos x
tan -1 x = arctan x

Law of Sines, Cosines and Tangents

c

b
Law of Sines
sin a sin b sin g
=
=
a
b
c

Law of Tangents
a - b tan 12 (a - b )
=
a + b tan 12 (a + b )

Law of Cosines
a 2 = b2 + c 2 - 2bc cos a

b - c tan 12 ( b - g )
=
b + c tan 12 ( b + g )

b 2 = a 2 + c 2 - 2ac cos b
c 2 = a 2 + b 2 - 2ab cos g
Mollweides Formula
a + b cos 12 (a - b )
=
c
sin 12 g

a - c tan 12 (a - g )
=
a + c tan 12 (a + g )

The laws of sines,

cosines, and tangents
rarely if ever appear in
AP Calculus. You
should know the law of
sines just in case you
run into a more
geometry oriented
problem.

2005 Paul Dawkins