Worked example 1: Revision

QUESTION
Determine the value of the expression, without using a calculator:
cos 420

sin 225

cos(45

)
tan 315

SOLUTION
Step 1: Use reduction formulae to express each trigonometric ratio in terms of an
acute angle
cos 420

sin 225

cos(45

)
tan 315

=
cos(360

+ 60

) sin(180

+ 45

) cos(45

)
tan(360

45

)
=
cos 60

(sin 45

)(cos 45

)
tan 45

=
cos 60

+ sin 45

cos 45

tan 45

Now use special angles to evaluate the simplied expression:

=
cos 60

+ sin 45

cos 45

tan 45

=
1
2
+

1
=

1
2
+
1
2

= 1
Worked example 2: Revision
QUESTION
Prove:
sin
2
(tan cos )(tan + cos ) =
cos
2
sin
2

cos
2

State restrictions where applicable.

SOLUTION
Step 1: Use trigonometric identities to simplify each side separately
Simplify the left-hand side of the identity:
LHS = sin
2
(tan cos )(tan + cos )
= sin
2
(tan
2
cos
2
)
= sin
2
tan
2
+ cos
2

sin
2
+ cos
2

tan
2

= 1 tan
2

141 Chapter 4. Trigonometry