MATH ED 13: TRIGONOMETRY

Chapter IV: TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITIES

A. The Eight Fundamental Identities

The fundamental identities are grouped into three – the reciprocal identities, the Pythagorean identities
and the ratio or quotient identities.

1. Reciprocal Identities
From the definition of the trigonometric functions,
y r
sin θ= and csc θ= .
r y
If we multiply the two functions,
y r
sin θ csc θ= . =1.
r y
Similarly,
x r
cos θ= and sec θ= ,
r x
so
x r
csc θ sec θ= . =1,
r x
and
y x
tanθ= and cot θ= ,
x y
so
y x
tanθ cot θ= . =1.
x y

2. Pythagorean Identities
These identities are based on the relation x 2+ y 2=r 2, between the coordinates of a point and its radius
vector. Each identity is obtained by dividing the relation by x 2 , y 2∨r 2 and then applying the definitions
of the functions.

If we divide the relation by r , we have

()() ()
x 2 y 2 r 2
+ =
r r r
x y
and from the definitions cos θ= and sin θ= , we have
r r
2 2
cos θ+sin θ=1.
If we divide the relation by x , we have

()() ()
2 2 2
x y r
+ =
x x x
we have
2 2
cot θ+1=csc θ .

3. Ratio of Quotient Identities

The ratio identities are obtained from the definition of the functions,
y x
tanθ= ; cot θ=
x y
By dividing both numerator and denominator by r , thus we have
y
r sinθ y x
tanθ= = , since sin θ= and cos θ= .
x cos θ r r
r
Similarly,
x
r cos θ
cot θ= = .
y sin θ
r
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 Hence we have the eight fundamental identities:
( 1 ) sinθ csc θ=1
( 2 ) cos θ sec θ=1
( 3 ) tan θ cot θ=1
( 4 ) cos2 θ+sin 2 θ=1
( 5 ) 1+ tan2 θ=sec 2 θ
( 6 ) cot2 θ+1=csc 2 θ
sin θ
( 7 ) tanθ=
cos θ
cos θ
( 8 ) cot θ=
sinθ

B. Expressing Trigonometric Expressions in Different Forms

Using the eight (8) fundamental identities, a trigonometric expression can be expressed in different forms.

EXAMPLE 1: Express tanθ in terms of sin θ only.

Solution: From the identities, we have
sin θ
tanθ=
cos θ
Then we must express cos θ in terms of sin θ . From the identity
2 2
cos θ+ sin θ=1
2 2
cos =1−sin θ
cos θ=± √ 1−sin θ
2

Hence,
sin θ
tanθ= .
± √ 1−sin θ
2

EXAMPLE 2: Change cos θ tanθ to a form containing sin θ only.

Solution:
cos θ tanθ=cos θ ( cos θ)
sin θ

cos θ tanθ=sin θ

2
sec A−1
EXAMPLE 3: Change to tan A sec A
sin A
Solution:
2 2
sec A−1 tan A 2 2
¿ (sec A−1=tan A)
sin A sin A
sin 2 A
cos 2 A
¿
sin A
2
sin A 1
¿ 2
.
cos A sin A
sin A
¿
cos2 A
sin A 1
¿ .
cos A cos A
¿ tan A sec A

C. Proving Identities
In proving identities, we must show that the left and right sides of the given equation are just different
forms of the same expression. There is no best procedure in proving that an equation is an identity, but it
is good to work on the more complicated side so that the application of algebraic operations can reduce it
to the other simpler form.

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We may work with the left side only, or with the right side only, or with both in order to obtain exactly the
same expression.
CAUTION: In proving identities, strictly:
 NO transposition of terms from one side to the other, and
 NO cross multiplication

Since these two processes will change the value of each side of the equation.

EXAMPLE 1: Prove that sec θ ( sec θ−cos θ )=tan 2 θ is an identity.

Solution: Since the left side is more complicated, we perform algebraic operations on it.

(From identity 1+ tan 2 θ=sec 2 θ

2 2
sin θ+ cos θ
EXAMPLE 2: Prove: csc θ sec θ=
sin θ cos θ
Solution: Here, we will simplify the right side.

sin θ(sin θ−cos θ) sin θ

EXAMPLE 3: =
1−2 sin θ cos θ sin θ−cos θ
Solution: work on the right side and multiply the numerator and the denominator by sin θ−cos θ

EXAMPLE 4: Prove sin θ+cos θ=√ 2 cos(θ−45° )

Solution: sin θ+cos θ=sin θ+ sin(90 °−θ)

1 1
sin θ+cos θ=2 sin ( 90 ° ) cos (θ−90° +θ)
2 2

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 1
sin θ+cos θ=2 sin 45 ° cos (2 θ−90 °)
2
sin θ+cos θ=2 sin 45 ° cos(θ−45°)

sin θ+cos θ=2 ( √12 ) cos(θ−45° )

sin θ+cos θ=√ 2 cos(θ−45° )

D. Other Trigonometric Identities

a. The Sum and Difference Identities

b. The Double Angle Identities

c. The Half Angle Identities

EXAMPLE 1: Given: sin A= ( 35 ) , 0< A<

π
2

cos B=( )
3 π
, 0< B<
5 2

Find: (a) sin( A +B)

(b) cos (A−B)

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 (c) tan2 B

(d) cos ( B2 )
(e) sin 2 A

Solution: Draw the figure for both angles A and B, draw the reference triangle and solve the third side.

(a) Write the identity and then substitute

sin( A +B) ¿ sin A cos B+cos A sin B
¿ ( )( ) ( )( )
3 3
5 5
+
4 4
5 5
9 16
¿ +
25 25
25
¿
25
¿1
(b) cos ( A−B ) ¿ cos A cos B+sin A cos B
¿ ( )( ) ( )( )
4 3
5 5
+
3 4
5 5

¿ ( )( )
12
25
+
12
25
24
¿
25
2 tan B
(c) tan2 B ¿
1−tan 2 B

¿
2 ()
4
3

()
2
4
1−
3
8
3
¿
16
1−
9
8
3
¿
−7
9
8 9
¿ .−
3 7
24
¿−
7
(d) cos ( )
B
2
¿±
√
1+cos B
2

√
3
1+ choose + sign since B lies in B
5
¿
2

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 √
8
5
¿
2

¿
√ 8 1
.
5 2

¿
√ 4
5
2 2 √5
¿ ∨
√5 5
(e) sin 2 A ¿ 2 sin A cos A
¿2
3 4
5 5( )( )
24
¿
25
EXAMPLE 2: Use the indicated trigonometric identity to find the exact value of

(a) cos 75 °( ∑ of two angles)

(b) sin 15 °(difference)
(c) tan15 ° (half −angle)

Solution:

(a) cos 75 ° ¿ cos (45 °+30 °)

¿ cos 45° cos 30 °−sin 45 ° sin 30 °
¿
√ 2 . √ 3 − √2 . 1
2 2 2 2
¿√ √
6− 2
4

(b) sin 15 ° ¿ sin( 45 °−30 °)

¿ sin 45 ° cos 30 °−cos 45 ° sin 30 °

( )( ) ( )( )
¿ √ . √ − √ .
2
2
2
3
2
2 1
2
¿
√6−√ 2
4

(c) tan15 ° ¿ tan ( 302° )

¿±
√ 1−cos 30°
1+cos 30 °

√ √√√
3
1−
2
¿+
3
1+
2

√√
2−√ 3
2
¿+
2+ √3
2
2−√3
¿
2+ √ 3

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