Basic Trigonometric

Identities
Identities are equations that are true for all
input values.
Example: aa
Reciprocal Identities
The following trigonometric identities
hold for all values of  where each
expression is defined.
1 1
sin   csc  
csc  sin 

1 1
cos   sec  
sec  cos 

1 1
tan   cot  
cot  tan 

Memorize these.
Quotient Identities
The following trigonometric identities
hold for all values of  where each
expression is defined.
sin  cos 
tan   cot  
cos  sin 

Pythagorean Identities

sin 2   cos 2   1 tan 2   1  sec 2  1  cot 2   csc 2 

Prove the equation is not an identity
Proving that the equation is not an identity
sin   cos   tan  can be done by finding a counter example.

Example: Let  = 0.

sin 0  cos 0  tan 0

0 1  0
Use the given information to
determine the exact trigonometric
value.
2
cos   , 0    90; sec 
3 1
cos  
Use an identity to change cosine into secant. sec 

1 2 3
 3  2 sec  sec  
sec  3 2
 Use the given information to
determine the exact
trigonometric value.
1 3
sin    ,     ; cos 
5 2
Use an identity to change sine into cosine. 2 6
cos   
1 5
sin 2   cos 2   1 cos 2   1 
25
2
 1
    cos   1
2
24
 5 cos  
2

25
1
 cos 2   1 24 24
25 cos    
25 5
Express the Value as a
Trigonometric Function of an Angle
in Quadrant I
 4  1. If needed add or subtract 2 in
cos  order to fall between 0 and 2
 3 
 2. Determine the
, Q3 reference angle and
3 quadrant.

 
 cos  3. Rewrite as the same trig.
3 Function of the reference angle.
Give an appropriate sign (+ or -).
Cosine is negative in Q3.
Express the Value as a
Trigonometric Function of an Angle
in Quadrant I
csc  330
1. If needed, add or subtract 360 in
order to fall between 0 and 360

2. Determine the reference

angle and quadrant.
30, Q1
3. Rewrite as the same trig.

csc 30
Function of the reference angle.
Give an appropriate sign (+ or -).

Sine is positive in Q1, thus

cosecant is positive.
Simplify (fewer terms and trig. functions)
1 Use identities to substitute in such
csc  a way that the expression can be
sin  simplified as far as possible.
cot  cos  One method is to rewrite each
sin  trig. function in terms of sine
and cosine.
1 cos 
csc   cot  
sin  sin 

1 sin  1
 sec θ
sin  cos  cos 
Simplify (fewer terms and trig. functions)
Use identities to substitute in such a way
that the expression can be simplified as far
as possible.
cos x csc x tan x 1 sin θ
csc   tan θ 
sin  cos θ

1 sin x
cos x  
sin x cos x 1
Simplify (fewer terms and trig. functions)
Use identities to substitute in such a way
that the expression can be simplified as far
as possible.
cos x cot x  sin x sin 2   cos 2   1

cos x sin x
cos x   2
cos x sin x
sin x 1 
sin x 1

cos 2 x sin 2 x cos 2 x  sin 2 x 1

   csc x
sin x sin x sin x sin x
Keep a sharp eye out for
Pythagorean identities.