Page |2

PROOFS OF TRIGONOMETRY
Fundamental Law:
Consider a unit circle with centre at O(0,0) as shown in figure.

Let P(cos , sin ) and Q(cos , sin ) be any two points in unit circle.
We have distance formula as:
d = ( − ) + ( − )
Here = ( − ) + ( − ) ------------------(1)
Now rotate the axes so that the positive direction of X-axis passes through the point P.

Then with respect to this coordinate system, the coordinates of P and Q become (1,0) and (cos( − ), sin( − ))
respectively.
So, = [ cos( − ) − 1] + [ (sin( − ) − 0) ] ------------------(2)
Comparing (1) and (2), we get
( − ) + ( − ) = [ cos( − ) − 1] + [ (sin( − ) − 0) ]
or ( − ) + ( − ) = [ cos( − ) − 1] + [ (sin( − ) − 0) ]
or cos2 – 2cos .cos + cos2 + sin2 – 2sin .sin + sin2 = cos2( − ) – 2cos( − ) + 1 + sin2( − )
or sin2 + cos2 – 2cos .cos – 2sin .sin + sin2 + cos2 = sin2( − )+ cos2( − ) + 1 – 2cos( − )
or 1 – 2cos .cos – 2sin .sin + 1 = 1 + 1 – 2cos( − )
or – 2cos .cos – 2sin .sin = – 2cos( − )
Dividing by -2, we get
or cos .cos + sin .sin = cos( − )
 Page |3

Hence, cos( − ) = cos .cos + sin .sin

Law of sin:
Statement:
Law of Sine states that in a triangle measure of the sides are proportional to sine of the angle opposite to theses
$ &
sides as: = =
!"# !"% !"'
Proof:
We place a ∆ABC in x-, y- coordinate system such that C(0,0) is at the origin and B(a,0) on positive x-axis as shown in the
figure.

$ ) ,-
As cos(1800 - () = = .,
*)+
,-
Cos1800.cos( - sin1800.sin( = $
,-
-cos( =
$
/0 = -b.sin(
*)+ .-
sin(1800 - () = 12* .,
.-
sin1800.cos( – cos1800.sin( = $
.-
sin( =
$
30 = b.sin(
So the coordinates of A are (b.cos(, b.sin()
Now, If B is taken at the origin

So, similarly coordinates of A are (c.cos , c.sin )

Hence y-coordinate 30, in both cases is same.
30 = 30
b.sin( = c.sin
$ &
!"%
= !"' ------------(1)
$
= ------------(2)
!"% !"#
Comparing (1) and (2), we get
$ &
!"#
= !"% = !"'
 Page |4

Law of Cosine: c2 =a2 + b2 – 2abcos4

Proof: We place a ∆ABC in x-, y- coordinate system such that C(0,0) is at the origin and B(a,0) on positive x-axis as
shown in the figure.

$ ) ,-
We have, cos(1800 - () = = .,
12*
,-
Cos1800.cos( + sin1800.sin( = $
,-
-cos( =
$
/0 = -b.cos(
*)+ .-
And sin(1800 - () = 12* = .,
.-
Sin1800.cos( - cos1800.sin( = $
.-
Sin( = $
30 = b.sin(
So, coordinates of A are (b.cos(, b.sin()
We have distance formula as:
d = ( − ) + ( − )
Here 35 = c = (6 ( − 7) + (6 ( − 0)
c= 6 ( − 276 ( + 7 + 6 (
c= 6 ( + 6 ( − 276 ( + 7
c= 6 ( ( + () − 276 ( + 7
c = 6 (1) − 276 ( + 7
Squaring both sides
c2 = 6 − 276 ( + 7
And hence, c2 = a2 + b2 – 2abcos(

9 ;<=>.;<=4
Prove that: ∆ = b2
: ;<=@
$ &
Proof: We have law of sin as:
!"#
=
!"%
=
!"'
$ $. !"#
So !"#
= !"% ⇒ a= !"%
.
& $ $. !"'
And !"'
= !"% ⇒ c= !"%
.
Area of ∆ = ac.sin
$. !"# $. !"'
= × !"%
× !"% × sin
!"#. !"'
Hence, ∆ = b2
!"

Prove that: ∆ = ;(; − @)(; − B)(; − C)

Proof: We have ∆ = ac.sin
%
∆ = ac.sin2( )
% %
∆ = ac × 2sin .cos [using: sin2x = 2sinxcosx]
 Page |5

( E )( E&) ( E$)
= ac D ×
& &
&
= ( − 7)( − 6)( − )
&
∆ = ( − 7)( − 6)( − )

Circum-circle: Circle circumscribing ∆ is called the circum-circle OR the circle touching the
vertices of ∆ is called circum-circle. Its centre is known as circum centre and radius is known as
circum radius denoted by R.

$ & $&
Prove that: R = !"#
= !"%
= !"'
and hence show that: R = G∆
Proof:
Let ‘O’ be the circum-centre of the circle of ∆ABC. Join O and B and then produce
5I to D. Join C and D. Then 5J = 2R.
If the ∆ is acute then m<A = = m<D.
In right ∆BCD
*)+* L,
sin = = =
12* LM N
sin =
N
2Rsin = a
Hence, R =
!"#

Now, R =
!"#

R = O R
× !" .&Q
P P

R=
(STU)(STV)×S(STW)
G × D
UV ×UV

R= ∆
G ×
UV

× $&
R= G × ∆
$&
R= G∆
C
In-circle: Circle touching the sides of a ∆ is called in-circle. It’s centre
is known as in-centre and radius is known as in-radius denoted by ‘r’.
Proof: Consider a triangle ∆ABC.
‘I’ is the centre of the ∆. Then XY = XZ = XJ = r
Join 3/ , X5, X3.
Here ∆ABC = ∆ABI + ∆BCI + ∆CAI F r E

∆= cr + ar + br b r I
a
∆ = r (a + b + c)
[$[,
∆ = rs [using: s = ] r

∆ A
Hence, r= B
D
c
 Page |6

∆
Prove that: r1 =
; E @
Proof: Consider a ∆ABC in which the e-circle is opposite to vertex
A whose radius is r1 and centre of circle is I1. Join I1A, I1B, I1C.

Then, ∆ABC = ∆I1CA + ∆I1BA − ∆I1BC

= br1 + cr1 − ar1
= r1 ( b + c - a ) -----------(1)
[ $ [ &
As s =
2s = a + b + c
2s – 2a = a + b + c – 2a
2(s – a) = b + c – a
(1) ⇒ ∆ = r1 [ 2 ( s − a ) ]
∆ = r1 [ 2 ( s − a ) ]
∆ = r1 ( s − a )
∆ = r1 ( s − a )
∆
Hence, r1 = E

∆
Prove that: r2 =
; E B
Proof: Consider a ∆ABC in which the e-circle is opposite to vertex
B whose radius is r2 and centre of circle is I2. Join I2A, I2B, I2C.

Then, ∆ABC = ∆I2AB + ∆I2BC - ∆I2AC

= cr2 + ar2 − br2
= r2 ( c + a - b ) -----------(1)
[ $ [ &
As s =
2s = a + b + c
2s – 2b = a + b + c – 2b
2(s – b) = a + c - b
(1) ⇒ ∆ = r2 [ 2 ( s − b ) ]
∆ = r2 [ 2 ( s − b ) ]
∆ = r2 ( s − b )
∆ = r2 ( s − b )
∆
r2 = E$
 Page |7

∆
Prove that: r3 =
; E C
Proof: Consider a ∆ABC in which the e-circle is opposite to vertex
C whose radius is r3 and centre of circle is I3. Join I3A, I3B, I3C.

Then, ∆ABC = ∆ I3CA + ∆ I3BC - ∆ I3AB

= br3 + ar3 − cr3
= r3 ( b + a - c ) -----------(1)
[ $ [ &
As s =
2s = a + b + c
2s – 2c = a + b + c – 2c
2( s – c ) = a + b − c
(1) ⇒ ∆ = r3 [ 2 ( s − c ) ]
∆ = r3 [ 2 ( s − c ) ]
∆ = r3 ( s − c )
∆ = r3 ( s − c )
∆
r3 = E&

> ( ;EB )( ;EC)

Prove that: sin = D
: BC
Proof:
As Cosine law says, a2 = b2+ c2 – 2bc.cos
So, 2bc.cos = b2 + c2 – a2
$P [ & P E P
cos = $&
Subtracting from both sides
$P [ & P E P
1 – cos = 1 –
$&
# $&E $P E & P [ P \
2 sin2 = $&
[using: 1 – cosx = 2sin2 ]
# P E $ P [ $& E & P
2 sin2 = $&
P E ] $P E $& [ & P ^
#
2 sin2 = $&
P E ( $ – & )P
2#
2 sin = $&
2# ( [$ E&)[ E ( $ E & )]
2 sin = $&
----------(1)
2# ( [$ E&)( [ & – $ )
2 sin = $&
[ $ [ &
As s =
2s = a + b + c
2s – 2c = a + b + c – 2c
2(s – c) = a + b – c
And 2s – 2b = a + b + c – 2b
2 (s - b) = a + c – b
# ( – $ ) × ( E& )
(1) ⇒ 2 sin2 = $&
# ( – $ ) × ( E& )
sin2 = $&
 Page |8

# ( E$ )( E&)
Hence, sin = D
$&

_ ( ;E@ )( ;EC)
Prove that: sin = D
: BC
Proof:
As Cosine law says, b2 = a2+ c2 – 2ac × cos
So, 2ac × cos = a2 + c2 – b2
P [ & P E $ P
cos = &
Subtracting from both sides
P [ & P E $P
1 – cos = 1 – &
2% &E P E & P [ $P \
2 sin = &
[using: 1 – cosx = 2sin2 ]
% $P E P [ &E & P
2 sin2 = $&
% $P E ] P E & [ & P ^
2 sin2 = &
2% $P E ( – & )P
2 sin = $&
2% ( $ [ E& )[$ E ( E & )]
2 sin = &
----------(1)
2% ( [ $ E&)( $ [ & E )
2 sin =
&
[ $ [ &
As s =
2s = a + b + c
2s – 2c = a + b + c – 2c
2(s – c) = a + b – c
And 2s – 2a = a + b + c – 2a
2 (s - a) = b + c − a
% ( – & ) × ( E )
(1) ⇒ 2 sin2 =
&
% ( – ) × ( E& )
sin2 =
&
% ( E )( E&)
Hence, sin = D &

4 ( ;E@ )( ;EB)
Prove that: sin = D
: @B
Proof:
As Cosine law says, c2 = a2+ b2 – 2ab × cos(
So, 2ac × cos( = a2 + b2 – c2
P [ $ P E & P
cos( = $
Subtracting from both sides
P [ $ P E & P
1 – cos( = 1 – $
2' $E P E $P [ & P \
2 sin = [using: 1 – cosx = 2sin2 ]
$
' & P E P [ $E $P
2 sin2 = $
 Page |9

' & P E ] P E $ [ $P ^
2 sin2 = $
2' & P E ( – $ )P
2 sin = $
2' ( &[ E $ )[& E ( E $ )]
2 sin = $
----------(1)
2' ( &[ E$)( &[$ E )
2 sin =
$
[ $ [ &
As s =
2s = a + b + c
2s – 2b = a + b + c – 2b
2(s – b) = a + c -b
And 2s – 2a = a + b + c – 2a
2 (s - a) = b + c − a
' ( –$ ) × ( E )
(1) ⇒ 2 sin2 =
$
' ( – ) × ( E$ )
sin2 = $
' ( E )( E$)
Hence, sin = D $

> ;( ;E@ )
Prove that: cos = D
: BC
Proof:
As Cosine law says, a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc × cos >
So, 2bc × cos> = b2 + c2 – a2
$P [ & P E P
cos> =
$&
Adding 1 both sides
$P [ & P E P
1 + cos> = 1 + $&
> $[ $P [ & P E P \
2 cos2 = [using: 1 + cosx = 2cos2 ]
$&
> ($ [ &)P E P
2 cos2 = $&
> ($ [ & [ )]$ [ & – ^
2 cos2 = $&
-----------------(1)
[ $ [ &
As s =
2s = a + b + c
And 2s – 2a = a + b + c – 2a
2 (s - a) = b + c − a
> × ( E )
(1) ⇒ 2 cos2 = $&
> × ( E$ )
cos2 = $&
> ( E )
Hence, cos = D $&

_ ;( ;EB )
Prove that: cos = D
: @C
Proof:
 P a g e | 10

As Cosine law says, b2 = a2 + c2 – 2ac × cos _

So, 2ac × cos_ = a2 + c2 – b2
P [ & P E $P
cos_ = &
Adding 1 both sides
P [ & P E $P
1 + cos_ = 1 + &
_ &[ P [ & P E $P \
2 cos2 = [using: 1 + cosx = 2cos2 ]
&
_ ( [ &)P E $P
2 cos2 = &
2_ ( [ &[ $)( [ &E $)
2 cos = &
-----------------(1)
[ $ [ &
As s =
2s = a + b + c
And 2s – 2b = a + b + c – 2b
2 (s - b) = b + c – b
_ × ( E$ )
(1) ⇒ 2 cos2 =
&
_ × ( E$ )
cos2 = &
_ ( E $)
Hence, cos = D &

4 ;( ;EC )
Prove that: cos = D
: @B
Proof:
As Cosine law says, c2 = a2 + b2 – 2 76 × cos 4
So, 2ab × cos4 = a2 + b2 – c2
P [ $P E & P
cos4 = $
Adding 1 both sides
P [ $P E & P
1 + cos4 = 1 +
$
24 $[ P [ $P E & P \
2 cos = $
[using: 1 + cosx = 2cos2 ]
24 ( [ $)P E & P
2 cos = $
24 ( [ $ [ &)( [ $ E &)
2 cos = $
-----------------(1)
[ $ [ &
As s =
2s = a + b + c
And 2s – 2c = a + b + c – 2c
2 (s - c) = a + b – c
4 × ( E& )
(1) ⇒ 2 cos2 = $
4 × ( E& )
cos2 = $
4 ( E &)
Hence, cos = D
$