Definition of the Trig Functions

Right triangle definition

For this definition we assume that

or 0 < < 90 .

( x, y )
hypotenuse

opposite

1
x

hypotenuse
opposite
hypotenuse
sec =
adjacent
adjacent
cot =
opposite
csc =

sin =

y
= y
1

cos =

= x
1
y
tan =
x

ra

opposite
hypotenuse
adjacent
cos =
hypotenuse
opposite
tan =
adjacent

ce

adjacent
sin =

.c

om

0 < <

Unit circle definition

For this definition is any angle.

1
y
1
sec =
x
x
cot =
y
csc =

Facts and Properties

xa

Domain
The domain is all the values of hat
can be plugged into the function.

.e

sin , can be any angle

cos , can be any angle
1

tan , n + , n = 0, 1, 2,
2

csc , n , n = 0, 1, 2,
1

sec , n + , n = 0, 1, 2,
2

cot , n , n = 0, 1, 2,

Range
T e range is all possible values to get
out of the function.
csc 1 and csc 1
1 sin 1
1 cos 1 sec 1 and sec 1
tan
cot

Period
The period of a function is the number,
T, such that f ( + T ) =
f ( ) . So, if
is a fixed number and is any angle we
have the following periods.
sin ( )

T=

cos ( )

tan ( )

csc ( )

sec ( )

cot ( )

2
=

2
=

2
=

Formulas and Identities

Half Angle Formulas

1
2
sin =

(1 cos ( 2 ) )
2
1
2
cos =

(1 + cos ( 2 ) )
2
1 cos ( 2 )
tan 2 =
1 + cos ( 2 )
Sum and Difference Formul s
sin (=
) sin cos cos sin

cos ( ) =
cos cos sin sin

tan 2 + 1 =
sec 2
1 + cot 2 =
csc 2

an tan
tan ( ) =
1 t n tan
Product to Sum Formulas
1
sin sin
=

cos ( ) cos ( + )
2
1
cos cos
=

cos ( ) + cos ( + )
2
1
sin cos
=

sin ( + ) + sin ( )
2
1
=
cos sin

sin ( + ) sin ( )
2
Sum to Product Formulas
+

sin + sin =
2sin
cos

2
2
+
sin sin =
2 cos
sin

2 2
+

cos + cos =
2 cos
cos

2
2

ra

Even/Odd Formulas
sin ( ) =
sin
csc ( ) =
csc
sec ( ) =
sec

tan ( ) =
tan

cot ( ) =
cot

Periodic Formulas
If n is an integer.
sin ( +=
2 n ) sin

csc ( +=
2 n ) csc

cos ( +=
2 n ) cos

ec ( +=
2 n ) sec

w
.e

xa

cos ( ) =
cos

tan (=
+ n ) tan cot (=
+ n ) cot
Double Angle Formulas
sin ( 2 ) = 2sin cos

cos=
( 2 ) cos 2 sin 2

ce
.c

om

Tangent and Cotangent Identities

sin
cos
=
tan =
cot
cos
sin
Reciprocal Identities
1
1
csc =
sin
=
sin
csc
1
1
sec =
cos
=
cos
sec
1
1
cot =
tan
=
tan
cot
Pythagorean Identities
sin 2 + cos 2 =
1

= 2 cos 2 1

= 1 2sin
2 tan
tan ( 2 ) =
1 tan 2

Degrees to Radians Formulas

If x is an angle in degrees and t is an
angle in radians then

t
x
180t
=
t=
and x =
180 x
180

+
cos cos =
2sin
sin

2 2
Cofunction Formulas

sin =
cos
2

csc =
sec
2

cos =
sin
2

sec =
csc
2

tan =
cot
2

cot =
tan
2

1 3
,
2 2

90

120

30

180

xa
210

225
225

w
.e

3 1
,
2
2

1
3
,

2 2

4
3

240

315
7
300
270
4
5
3
3
2

( 0,1)

Example
3
5 1
5
=
cos
sin
=

2
3 2
3

360

1
3
,

2 2

For any ordered pair on the unit circle ( x, y ) : cos = x and sin = y

3 1
,
2 2

330

2
2

5
4

45
45

135

150

7
6

2 2
,

2 2

60

( 1,0 )

5
6

2
3

ra

3 1
,
2 2

3
4

1 3
,
2 2

ce
.c

2 2
,

2
2

( 0,1)

om

Unit Circle

11
6

(1,0 )

3 1
,
2 2

2
2
,

2
2

Inverse Trig Functions

Definition
1
y sin
=
x is equivalent to x sin y

1
cos
=
x is equivalent to x cos y

1
tan
=
x is equivalent to x tan y

Domain and Range

Function
Domain

1 x 1

y = cos x

1 x 1

y = tan 1 x

< x <

1
=
tan ( tan ( ) )
tan ( tan 1
( x ) ) x=

Alternate Notation
sin 1 x = arcsin x

2
2
0 y

< y<

cos 1 x = arccos x
tan 1 x = a ctan x

ra

y = sin 1 x

Range

=
sin ( sin 1 ( x ) ) x=
sin 1 ( sin ( ) )

ce
.c

om

Inverse Properties
=
cos ( cos 1 ( x ) ) x=
cos 1 ( cos ( ) )

Law of Sines, Cosines and Tangents

w
.e

xa

Law of Sines
sin sin sin
= =
a
b
c

Law of Cosines
a 2 = b 2 + c 2 2bc cos
b 2 = a 2 + c 2 2ac cos
c 2 = a 2 + b 2 2ab cos
Mollweides Formula
a + b cos 12 ( )
=
c
sin 12

b
Law of Tangents
a b tan 12 ( )
=
a + b tan 12 ( + )
b c tan 12 ( )
=
b + c tan 12 ( + )

a c tan 12 ( )
=
a + c tan 12 ( + )