COSINE:

SUM AND DIFFERENCE

IDENTITIES
Preview
In previous lessons, the identities that
were presented involved only one
angle ( usually θ). Now, identities that
involve two angles, such as α and β,
will be introduced. The first is the
difference identity for cosine.
 Difference Identities for the Cos Function
cos (a – b) = cos a cos b + sin a sin b

To prove this identity, place

angles α (alpha) and β (beta) in standard
position, as shown in the figure at the
right. The terminal sides of angles a and b
intersect the unit circle O at points D and
F, respectively, and the measure of central
angle DOF is α – β.

NOTE that the coordinates of point D and

F are:

D(cos α, sin α) F(cos β, sin β)

 The figure at the right shows angle
AOC, with measure α – β , in standard
position.

NOTE that the coordinates of point A and C

are:

A(1,0) C(cos(α – β), sin(α – β))

Since triangles AOC and DOF are

congruent (by SAS), line segments AC and DF
are congruent and AC = DF. Use the distance
formula to express AC and DF in terms of the
coordinates of points A, C , D and F.
NOTE:

that cos(α – β) = cos[ - (α – β)] = cos(β – α), so the identity holds for
any values of α and β.
EXAMPLE 1
Find the exact value of cos 15°
Since cos 15° = cos (45° - 30°), let a = 45° b = 30°
= cos 45° cos 30°

= cos 45° cos 30° + sin 45° sin 30° Difference Identity for Cosine

2 3 2 1
=
. + .
2 2 2 2
6 3
= .
4 4

= 6+ 2
4
 YOU TRY!
Find the exact value of cos 195°

cos 195° = cos (225° – 30°)

= cos 225° cos 30° + sin 225° sin 30°
=

=
 Sum Identities for the Cos Function
cos (a + b) = cos a cos b - sin a sin b

Proof:
To Prove the sum identity for cosine, write – ( - b ) Then.

= cos (a + b) = cos [a – (- b)]

= cos a cos (- b)+ sin a sin (- b)]
=cos a cos b - sin a sin b
EXAMPLE 2
𝟕𝝅
Find the exact value of cos
𝟏𝟐
𝟕𝝅 𝟒𝝅 𝟑𝝅 𝝅 𝝅 𝝅 𝝅
Since = + = + , 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝛂 = 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝜷 =
𝟏𝟐 𝟏𝟐 𝟏𝟐 𝟑 𝟒 𝟑 𝟒

𝟕𝝅 𝝅 𝝅
Cos 𝟏𝟐 = +
𝟑 𝟒
𝝅 𝝅 𝝅 𝝅
= Cos𝟑 Cos𝟒 − Sin 𝟑 − Sin 𝟒 sum identity of cosine

1 2 3 2 2 6 2− 6
= − = − =
2 2 2 2 4 4 4

Note:
That cos(a – b) is not equal to cos a – cos b. To illustrate, cos (45⁰ - 30⁰)
2− 6 2 3 2− 3
= (from example one), but cos 45⁰ - cos 30 ⁰ = − = .
4 2 2 2
Similary, cos(a + b) is not equal to cos a + cos b.
YOU TRY
Find the exact value of cos 75°
cos 75° = cos (45° + 30°)
= cos 45° cos 30° – sin 45° sin 30°

=
EXAMPLE 3
𝟑
Find the exact values of cos (α + β) and cos (α – β) if sin a = ,
𝟓
𝟓 𝝅 𝝅
tan β = - ’ 0 < α < ‘ and < β < π.
𝟏𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
Find cos α, sin β, and cos β before
using the identities for cosine.
3
To find cos α, note that that sin α =
5
and α is in quadrant I. Use y = 3 and
r = 5, and calculate x.

x = ± 52 + 32 = ± 16 = ±4

Since α is in quadrant I, x = 4.
4
Thus, cos α = .
5
EXAMPLE 3
𝟑
Find the exact values of cos (α + β) and cos (α – β) if sin a = ,
𝟓
𝟓 𝝅 𝝅
tan β = - ’ 0 < α < ‘ and <𝜷 < π.
𝟏𝟐 𝟐 𝟐

To find sin b and cos b, note that

5
tan β = - and β is in quadrant II.
12
Use x = - 12 and y = 5, and calculate r.
r = −12 2 + 52 = 13
5 12
Thus, sin β = and cos β = - .
13 13
EXAMPLE 3
𝟑
Find the exact values of cos (α + β) and cos (α – β) if sin a = ,
𝟓
𝟓 𝝅 𝝅
tan β = - ’ 0 < α < ‘ and < π.
𝟏𝟐 𝟐 𝟐

5 12
Thus, sin β = and cos β = - .
13 13
4 12 3 5
Then, cos (α + β) = − −
5 13 5 13
48 15 63
=- − = −
65 65 65
4 12 3 5
Also, cos α (α – β) = − +
5 13 5 13
48 15
=- +
65 65
33
= −
65

The above sum and difference identities can be used to prove other
identities.
EXAMPLE 4 𝝅
Prove: sin θ = cos − 𝜽
𝟐

𝝅
sin θ cos − 𝜽
𝟐

𝝅 𝝅
cos cos θ + sin sin θ
𝟐 𝟐

0 (cos θ) + 1(sin θ)

= sin θ

𝝅
Therefore, sin θ = cos − 𝜽 .
𝟐
EXTRAS
TRY IT OUT!
PRACTICE EXERCISES
Use the sum or the difference identity for cosine to find the exact value of each
trigonometric function.
𝟏. 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟕𝟓° 𝟐. 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟏𝟎𝟓° 𝟑. 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟏𝟔𝟓° 𝟒. 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟏𝟗𝟓°
𝟓𝝅 𝝅 𝟕𝝅 𝝅
5.𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟑𝟒𝟓° 𝟔. 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐𝟖𝟓° 𝟕. 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟑 + 𝟒 𝟖. 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟔 + 𝟒
 𝝅 𝝅
Find the exact value of of cos (a + b), given 0 < a < , 0 < b < .
𝟐 𝟐
4 12
9. Cos a = , Cos b =
5 13

3 5
10. Sin a = , sin b =
5 13
𝝅 𝝅
Find the exact value of of cos (a + b), given < a < 𝝅, < b < 𝝅.
𝟐 𝟐

7 3
11. Sin a = , Tan b = −
25 4

15 5
12. Tan a = − , Sin b =
8 13
 𝝅 𝝅
Find the exact value of of cos (a - b), given 𝝅< a < 3 , < b <𝝅
𝟐 𝟐
7 3
13. Cos a = − , Tan b = −
25 4

3 15
14. Cos a = − , Sin b =
15 17
𝟑𝝅 𝟑𝝅
Find the exact value of of cos (a + b), given < a < 2𝝅, 𝝅 < b <
𝟐 𝟐

15 4
15.Cos a = , Tan b =
17 3

7 5
16. Cos a = , Sin b = −
25 13
Use the sum or the difference identity for cosine to prove each
identity.

17. cos 360° + 𝛼 = cos 𝛼

18. cos 180° + 𝛼 = −cos 𝛼

19. cos 270° + 𝛽 = −sin 𝛽

20. cos 180° + 𝛽 = − cos 𝛽

Find the exact value of cos in the given problems.

𝜋 cos 𝛽+ 3 sin 𝛽
21. cos −𝛽 =
3 2

𝜋 3 cos 𝛽+sin 𝛽
22. cos 𝛽 − =
6 2

3𝜋 2
23. cos +𝛼 =− (cos 𝛼 + sin 𝛼)
4 2

24. cos 2𝛼 = cos2 𝛼 − sin2 𝛼

Use the sum or the difference identity for cosine to
find the exact value of each trigonometric function.

25. Cos (-285⁰)

26.Cos (-105⁰)

17𝜋
27. Cos −
12

5𝜋
28. Cos −
12
END…