Tangents for Trig Functions Name:___________________________

Derivatives of the six basic trig functions are used often and must be memorized.
Image Remember, though, if your memory fails you --- or the derivatives seem too
similar or overwhelming --- you can derive many of the formulas you will need.
How can we use what we already know to find these new derivatives?

1. Use your knowledge of derivatives to complete the table below. Be sure to confirm your results
by comparing your manual calculation at with the numerical derivative on your calculator.

Rewrite of Required work to develop Simplified Manual Numerical

original the derivative formula derivative calculation: derivative:
function formula   6   6
f ( )  sin 

g ( )  cos 

h( )  tan 

k ( )  cot 

m( )  sec 

p ( )  csc 

2. What feature do the derivatives of cos  , cot  , and csc  share that might be helpful when you’re
memorizing these derivatives?
 Topic 2.10 — Derivatives of Trig Functions
Important Ideas:

Check Your Understanding!

In 1 – 5: find the derivative of each function.
1 2
1. 𝑓(𝜃) = csc𝜃 + sec𝜃 2. W (t )  
sec t 3csc t

sin y
3. F ( y )  4. 𝑃(𝑥) = cos𝑥 ⋅ tan𝑥
tan y  csc y

5. g ( )  cot   cot 

𝜋 sin𝑥+𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥
6. Find 𝐻′ ( 3 ) when 𝐻(𝑥) = cos𝑥 ⋅ tan𝑥 +
sin𝑥