Chapter 3 - Trigonometric Identities
Chapter 3 - Trigonometric Identities
MAT 092
Lecture Notes
Project Coordinator:
Written by:
Reference Books:
• Precalculus - The Art of Problem Solving by Richard Rusczyk
Contents
1 Trigonometric Identities 2
1.1 Introduction to Trig Identities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.2 Sum and Differences of Angles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.3 Double and Half Angles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.4 Sum-to-product and Product-to-sum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Appendices 20
1
Chapter 1
Trigonometric Identities
From the previous chapter, we have already proven the identities such
as sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1, cos (−θ) = cos θ and sin (−θ) = − sin θ. You
should know these identities well.
Example 1.1.1.
√
Find all x with 0 6 x < 2π such that tan x + sec x = 3.
2
BRAC
University MAT 092
us 2 sin2 x + sin x − 1 = 0. Since the equation is quadratic in sin x, we
let u = sin x and factorise to give
(2 sin x − 1)(sin x + 1) = 0
Example 1.1.2.
Prove the identity tan2 x + 1 = sec2 x
Solution: Once again, we start by writing the left side in terms of sine
and cosine
sin2 x sin2 x + cos2 x 1
tan2 x + 1 = 2
+ 1 = 2
= 2
= sec2 x
cos x cos x cos x
Similarly, we can prove the identity cot2 x + 1 = csc2 x in the following
way
cos2 x cos2 x + sin2 x 1
cot2 x + 1 = 2 + 1 = 2 = 2 = csc2 x
sin x sin x sin x
It is important to know these following identities:
• tan2 x + 1 = sec2 x
• cot2 x + 1 = csc2 x
Example 1.1.3.
(csc x)(sec x)
Show that = cot x
1 + tan2 x
Solution:Before we directly write in terms of sine and cosine, we
can simplify the denominator on the left hand side with the identity
3 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
Example 1.1.4.
Use the unit circle to express each of sin (90◦ − θ), cos (90◦ − θ) and
tan (90◦ − θ) in terms of sin θ, cos θ, tan θ or cot θ.
and
sin (90◦ − θ) = OB = OA = cos θ
Although we have only considered acute angles above, we have arrived at
two new trigonometric identities that hold for all angles. It is important
4 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
to know these two identities. We can use these two identities to find an
identity for tangent
5 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
Example 1.1.5.
Express the following in terms of sin θ, cos θ or tan θ.
(a) cos ( π2 + θ) (b) sin (π − θ)
3π
(c) tan (π + θ) (d) cos (θ − 2 )
Solution: We can show that the graph of y = cos ( π2 + x) is the result
of shifting the graph of y = cos x to the left by π2 . Doing so gives us a
graph completely identical to the graph of y = sin x reflected over the
x-axis, which is the graph of y = sin x. Therefore,
π
cos + x = − sin x
2
for all x.
(b) We can use a unit circle to express sin (π − θ) in terms of trigono-
metric functions of θ. From the diagram below, we see that θ is an acute
angle and P is its terminal point. Let Q be the terminal point of π − θ
so that OQ forms an angle of θ with the negative x-axis. Since the right
triangles P OA and QOB are congruent, then P A = QB. So, P and Q
are the same distance above the x-axis and have the same y coordinate
but opposite x coordinates. Thus, their corresponding angles have the
same sine.
If two points are symmetric about the y-axis, then the points have
opposite x coordinates but equal y coordinates. So,
cos (π − θ) = OB = − cos θ
and
sin (π − θ) = BQ = AP = sin θ
6 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
(c) As shown in the previous chapter, the period of the tangent func-
tion is π. So,
tan (π + θ) = tan θ
3π
(d) We can graph y = cos (x − 2 ) by shifting the graph of y = cos x
to the right by 3π
2 .
3π
Figure 1.5: Graph of cos (x − 2 )
7 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
8 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
9 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
Example 1.2.5.
Find sin(arcsin 45 ) and cos(arcsin 45 ).
Solution: From the definition of an inverse function, we have sin(arcsin 54 ) =
4 4
5 and so we have sin θ = 5 and θ is in the first quadrant since the arcsine
of a positive number less than 1 is a first quadrant angle.
We can now use the geometric interpretation of sine and cosine. Con-
sider a right triangle ∆ABC with ∠C = 90◦ and ∠A = θ. Then, we
have sin θ = BC AC
AB and cos θ = AB .
10 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
Example 1.3.1.
Find sin 2x and cos 2x in terms of sin x and cos x.
Solution: Applying angle sum identities for sine and cosine, we have
sin 2x = sin(x + x) = sin x cos x + sin x cos x = 2 sin x cos x
cos 2x = cos(x + x) = cos x cos x − sin x sin x = cos2 x − sin2 x
Substituting cos2 x = 1 − sin2 x to write cos 2x solely in terms of cos x
or sin x, we have
cos 2x = cos2 x − sin2 x = (1 − sin2 x) − sin2 x = 1 − 2 sin2 x
and substituting sin2 x = 1 − cos2 x gives
cos 2x = cos2 x − sin2 x = cos2 x − (1 − cos2 x) = 2 cos2 x − 1
Example 1.3.2.
Find tan 2x in terms of tan x.
Solution: Applying the angle sum identity for tangent, we have
tan x + tan x 2 tan x
tan 2x = tan(x + x) = =
1 − tan x tan x 1 − tan2 x
Thus, we have arrived at the following double angle identities:
• sin 2x = 2 sin x cos x
• cos 2x = cos2 x − sin2 x = 2 cos2 x − 1 = 1 − 2 sin2 x
2 tan x
• tan 2x =
1 − tan2 x
11 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
Example 1.3.3.
Find cos x2 and sin x2 in terms of cos x.
12 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
Example 1.3.4.
Find cos 15◦ using a half angle identity and compare with the result
from Example 1.2.4.
Solution:Since 15◦ is a first quadrant angle, we take the positive root
√ √ √
s s s
3
r
◦ ◦ 1 +
30 1 + cos 30 2 + 3 2 + 3
cos 15◦ = cos = = 2
= =
2 2 2 4 2
However, this answer
√ √ does not match the answer from Example 3.2.4,
which gave us 6+4 2 . To confirm that they are equal, we square both
numbers:
√ √ !2 p √ √ √
6+ 2 6+2 6 2+2 8+2·2 3 2+ 3
= = =
4 16 16 4
p √ !2 √
2+ 3 2+ 3
=
2 4
Since our two results for cos 15◦ have equal squares, the two must be
the same.
Half Angle Identities:
s
1 + cos θ
• cos 2θ = ±
2
s
1 − cos θ
• sin 2θ = ±
2
sin θ 1 − cos θ
• tan 2θ = =
1 + cos θ sin θ
Example 1.3.5.
Find (cos 20◦ )(cos 40◦ )(cos 80◦ ).
Solution:We can try applying the double angle identities since 80◦ =
2·40◦ and 40◦ = 2·20◦ . Applying the cosine double angle identity to the
latter two cosines would result in something too complicated. Instead,
we consider the cosine in the sine double angle identity. For example
13 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
◦
sin 40◦ = 2 cos 20◦ sin 20◦ , so cos 20◦ = 2sin 40
sin 20◦ . Making this substitution
gives us
sin 40◦
◦ ◦ ◦
(cos 20 )(cos 40 )(cos 80 ) = ◦
(cos 40◦ )(cos 80◦ )
2 sin 20
(sin 40◦ )(cos 40◦ )(cos 80◦ )
=
2 sin 20◦
We see the product of sine and cosine of the same angle in the nu-
merator on the right side, which means we can use the sine double angle
identity again. So, (sin 40◦ )(cos 40◦ ) = 21 (sin 80◦ ). Now, we have
◦ ◦ ◦(sin 40◦ )(cos 40◦ )(cos 80◦ ) (sin 80◦ )(cos 80◦ )
(cos 20 )(cos 40 )(cos 80 ) = =
2 sin 20◦ 4 sin 20◦
Once again, we use the sine double angle identity to give us (sin 80◦ )(cos 80◦ ) =
1 ◦
2 sin 160 . Thus,
Solution: (a) We know the angle sum and angle difference identities
for cosine:
14 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
Example 1.4.2.
Find (cos 20◦ )(cos 40◦ )(cos 80◦ ) again using one of the identities found
above.
Solution: If a problem involves the product of sines and/or cosines of
angles with a convenient sum or difference, consider the product-to-sum
identities. We have an identity for the product of two cosines. However,
the above problem is the product of three cosines. We apply the product-
to sum identity for two cosines to (cos 40◦ )(cos 80◦ ) since the angles have
sum 120◦ , which we can deal with in trigonometric functions
◦ ◦ 1 ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦
(cos 80 )(cos 40 ) = cos(40 + 80 ) + cos(80 − 40 )
2
15 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
1 ◦ ◦ 1 ◦ 1
= (cos 120 + cos 40 ) = cos 40 −
2 2 2
Now, we have
◦ ◦ ◦ 1 ◦ ◦ 1
(cos 20 )(cos 40 )(cos 80 ) = (cos 20 ) cos 40 −
2 2
Expanding the product on the right side gives us
1 ◦ ◦ 1 1 ◦ ◦ 1 ◦
(cos 20 ) cos 40 − = (cos 40 )(cos 20 ) − (cos 20 )
2 2 2 2
Applying a product-to-sum identity for cosine to (cos 40◦ )(cos 20◦ ) gives
◦ ◦ 1 ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦
(cos 40 )(cos 20 ) = cos(40 + 20 ) + cos(40 − 20 )
2
1 1 1
◦ ◦ ◦
= cos 60 + cos 20 = + cos 20
2 2 2
So, now we have
◦ ◦ ◦ 1 ◦ ◦ 1 ◦
(cos 20 )(cos 40 )(cos 80 ) = (cos 40 )(cos 20 ) − (cos 20 )
2 2
1 1 1 1
= + cos 20◦ − cos 20◦
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 ◦ 1 ◦ 1
= + cos 20 − cos 20 =
2 4 2 2 8
Therefore, we have arrived at the same result as we did in Example
1.3.5. So, (cos 20◦ )(cos 40◦ )(cos 80◦ ) = 81
Example 1.4.3.
(a) Show that cos x + cos y = 2 cos( x+y x−y
2 ) cos( 2 )
16 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
x+y
cos x−y
• cos x + cos y = 2 cos 2 2
Example 1.4.4.
17 of 20
BRAC
University MAT 092
18 of 20
Appendices
19
List of Figures
20