TRIGONOMETRIC IDEN TITIES

Consider for instance the simple relationship between the sine, cosine and tangent of any
angle.

For any angle one has;

sin θ = y
OP

cos θ = x
OP

tan θ = y
x

But sin θ = y ÷ x = y
cos θ OP OP x

Thus for ALL angles

tan θ ≡ sin θ
cos θ

The Pythagorean (Or Squared Ratio Group)

For any position of O P a right angle

θ o triangle O PQ can be drawn for which

OP2 = x2 + y2

P(x, y)

Dividing throughout in turn, by O P2 , x 2 , and y2 gives

[1] becomes (cos θ)2 + (sin θ)2 = 1

[2] becomes 1 + (tan θ)2 = (sec θ)2

 TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITIES

Consider for instance the simple relationship between the sine, cosine and tangent of any
angle.

For any angle one has;

sin θ = y
OP

cos θ = x
OP

tan θ = y
x

But sin θ = y x = y
cos θ OP OP x

Thus for ALL angles

tan θ ≡ sin θ
cos θ

The Pythagorean (Or Squared Ratio Group)

For any position of OP a right angle

θ o triangle OPQ can be drawn for which

OP2 = x2 + y2

P(x, y)

Dividing throughout in turn, by OP2, x2, and y2 gives

[1] becomes (cos θ)2 + (sin θ)2 = 1

[2] becomes 1 + (tan θ)2 = (sec θ)2

[3] becomes (cot θ)2 + 1 = (cosec θ)2

The use brackets when raising a trigonometric ratio to a power can be avoided by writing

(cos θ)2 ≡ cos2 θ etc.

The above relationships are valid for any position of OP, i.e. for any angle θ.
So for ALL angles

cos2 θ + sin2 θ ≡ 1

1 + tan2 θ ≡ sec2 θ

1 + cot2 θ ≡ cosec2 θ

Reminders:

cos2 θ + sin2 θ ≡ 1

sec2 θ – tan2 θ ≡ 1

cosec2 θ – cot2 θ ≡ 1

These identities are very useful in the solution of certain trigonometric equations.

sin2 θ + tan2 θ cos2 θ = 1 ⇔ cos2 θ + sin2 θ

tan2 θ 1

1 – sin2 θ = 1 ⇔ sec2 θ – tan2 θ

cos2 θ cos2 θ

1 – cos2 θ = 1 ⇔ cosec2 θ – cot2 θ

sin2 θ sin2 θ
Example 1. Solve the equation 2 cos2 θ – sin θ = 1 for the values of θ between 0 and 2π.

Using the identity cos2 θ + sin2 θ ≡ 1

Transpose the identity for cos2 θ and substitute in the value in the equation.

2( 1 – sin2 θ ) – sin θ = 1

This now gives a quadratic equation ( of the form ax2 + bx + c = 0)

2 sin2 θ + sin θ – 1 = 0 Assuming sin θ = x

Solve equation by factorization

2 sin2 θ + sin θ – 1 = 0

ac = – 2 [ 2 × – 1]
b=1 [ 2 + (– 1)]

bθ = sin θ = 2 sin θ – sin θ

2 sin2 θ + 2 sin θ – sin θ – 1 = 0

(2 sin2 θ + 2 sin θ) + (– sin θ – 1) = 0

2 sin( sin θ + 1) – (sin θ + 1) = 0

(2 sin θ – 1) (sin θ + 1 ) = 0

2 sin θ – 1 = 0 or sin θ + 1 = 0

sin θ = ½ or sin θ = – 1

Now if sin θ = ½ , θ = 30o × πc = πc , 5πc [hint: πc = π radians = 180o]

180 6 6

π π
6 6

 NB – rotating 30o – πc/6 anticlockwise, will be equivalent to a 130o – 5πc/6

clockwise rotation about the same origin.

Now if sin θ = – 1 , θ = 270o × πc = 3πc , [hint: πc = π radians = 180o]

 180 2

f (0) sin = θ

0 π 3π
2 2
–1

.
. . the solutions of the equation is θ = πc , 3πc , 5πc
6 2 6
2) If 3 sec2 θ – 5 tan θ – 4 = 0 find the general solution.
Using the identity tan2 θ + 1 ≡ sec2 θ

3 sec2 θ – 5 tan θ – 4 = 0
gives
3 (tan2 θ + 1 ) – 5 tan θ – 4 = 0

3 tan2 θ – 5 tan θ – 1 = 0

One gets a quadratic equation but because it has no simple factors one must solve it by
the formula method.

→ 3 tan2 θ – 5 tan θ – 1 = 0

a = 3, b = – 5, c = – 1

tan θ = – b ± √b2 – 4ac

2a

→ tan θ = – (– 5) ± √ (– 5)2 – 4(3)( (– 1)

2(3)

tan θ = 5 ± √ 25 + 12
6

tan θ = 5 + √ 25 + 12 or tan θ = 5 –√ 25 + 12
6 6

tan θ = 1.8471 or tan θ = – 0.1805

If tan θ = 1.8471, the principal solution is θ = 61.57o

If tan θ = – 0.1805, the principal solution is θ = – 10.23o

The complete general solution is

180n o + 61.57o
θ=
180n o – 10.23o

Example 3 Prove that (1 – cos A)(1 + sec A) ≡ sin A tan A

 NB – since the relationship has yet to be proven, one must not assume its truth by
using the ENTIRE identity in ones working.

 The L.H.S. and R.H.S. must be isolated throughout the Proof.

(1 – cos A)(1 + sec A) ≡ 1 + sec A – cos A – cos A sec A

≡ 1 + sec A – cos A – cos A 1

cos A

≡ 1 + sec A – cos A – cos A 1

cos A

≡ 1 + sec A – cos A – 1

≡ sec A – cos A [hint: sec A ≡ 1 ]

cos A

≡ 1 – cos A
cos A

1 – cos2 A [hint: – cos2A ≡ sin2 A – 1]

cos A

≡ 1 + sin2 A – 1
cos A

≡ sin2 A
cos A

≡ sin A sin A [hint: tan A ≡ sin A ]

cos A cos A

≡ sin A tan A *[L.H.S is now identical to the R.H.S.]

Example 4. Prove that (cosec A – sin A) (sec A – cos A) ≡ 1
tan A + cot A
Choosing the L.H.S.

(cosec A – sin A) (sec A – cos A) ≡ 1 – sin A 1 – cos A

sin A cos A

≡ 1 – sin2 A 1 – cos2 A
sin A cos A

≡ 1 – sin2 A × 1 – cos2 A
sin A cos A

≡ cos2 A sin2 A [hint: cos2 A + sin2 A ≡ 1]

sin A cos A

≡ cos2 A sin2 A
sin A cos A
≡ cos A sin A

 NB – Now this already a very simplified form, however it is not identical to the
given R.H.S.
 Now one will have to resolve independently the R.H.S to make it identical as the
L.H.S.

Choosing the R.H.S.

1 1
tan A + cot A ≡
sin A + cos A
cos A sin A

1
≡ [hint : cos2 A + sin2 A ≡ 1]
2 2
sin A + cos A
cos A sin A

1
≡
1
cos A sin A
 ≡ 1 × cos A sin A
1 1

≡ cos A sin A

Since both the L.H.S. and R.H.S. is reduce to cos A sin A they are identical.

Example 5. Eliminate θ from the equations x = 2 cos θ and y = 3 sin θ

Transposing each as a trig ratio

cos θ = x and sin θ = y

2 3

Using the identity cos2 θ + sin2 θ ≡ 1

Gives 2 2
x + y = 1
2 3
→
x2 y2 +
4 9
9x + 4y2
2
= 1
36
Multiply both sides by 36 to make equation linear,

9x2 + 4y2 = 36

 NB – One can see that both x and y initially depend on θ a variable angle.
 When used in this way θ is called a parameter – a variable which plays an
important part in the analysis of curves and functions.

Example 6. If sin A = ⅓ and A is an obtuse angle, find the cos A and cot A without
using tables or a calculator.

Using the identity cos2 A + sin2 A ≡ 1

→ cos2 A + 1 =1
9
2
cos A = 9 – 1 [hint:1 ≡ 9 ]
9 9 9
2
cos A = 8
9
 √ ( cos2 A) = ± 8
9

cos A = ± 8
9

cos A = ± √( 4 ×2)
3
.
. . cos A = ± 2√ 2
3
Since A is an obtuse angle, cos A is negative

i.e. cos A = – 2√ 2
3
Using cot A ≡ cos A
sin A

Hence cot A = – 2√ 2
3 = – 2√ 2
⅓
 NB – The above type of question can often be done more directly by drawing the
appropriate right angled triangle and using Pythagoras’ Theorem.

3
1
α A

– 2√ 2

Compound Angle Identities

It is pretty useful to be able to express the trigonometric ratios of angles such as A + B or

A – B in terms of the trigonometric ratios of A and B.

 NB – At first sight it is dangerously easy to think, for instance that,

sin 45o + sin 45o = √2 + √2 = √2 = 1

2 2
So one sees that the sine function is not distributive (and similarly for the other
trigonometric ratios).

The correct expression is sin (A + B) ≡ sin A cos B + cos A sin B.

This formula can be proved geometrically when A and B are both acute, by using the
diagram overleaf.

Compound Angle Identities

sin (A + B) ≡ sin A cos B + cos A sin B.

sin (A – B) ≡ sin A cos B – cos A sin B.

cos (A + B) ≡ cos A cos B – sin A sin B.

cos (A – B) ≡ cos A cos B + sin A sin B.

tan (A + B) ≡ tan A + tan B

1 – tan A tan B

tan (A + B) ≡ tan A – tan B

1 + tan A tan B
Ex. 7c
Example 1 Without using tables and calculators, evaluate

a) sin 75o

sin 75o = sin (45o + 30o)

Using sin (A + B) ≡ sin A cos B + cos A sin B.

sin 75o = sin (45o + 30o) = sin 45o cos 30o + cos 45o sin 30o

= √2 . √3 + √2 . 1
2 2 2 2

√(2 × 3) + √(2 × 1)
4 4
= √2 .√3 + √2
4

= √2 .√3 + √2 factorising the numerator

4
 = √2 (√3 + 1) or √2 (√3 + 1)
4 4

a) cos 105o

cos 105o = cos (60o + 45o)

Using cos (A + B) ≡ cos A cos B – sin A sin B.

cos 75o = cos (60o+ 45o) = cos 60o cos 45o – sin 60o sin 45o

= 1 . √2 – √3 . √2
2 2 2 2

1 × √2 – √3 × √2)
4 4
= √2 – √3.√2
4

= √2 – √3.√2 factorising the numerator

4

= √2 (1 – √3 ) or √2 (1 – √3)
4 4

Double Angle Identities

sin 2A ≡ 2 sin A cos A

cos 2A ≡ cos2 A – sin2 A

tan 2A ≡ 2 tan A
1 – tan2 A

cos 2A ≡ cos2A – sin2A

cos 2A ≡ 1 – 2 sin2A
 cos 2A ≡ 2 cos2A – 1

Reminder:

2 cos2A – cos 2A ≡ 2 sin2A + cos 2A ≡ 1