SHS

Pre-Calculus
Module 14: Fundamental
Trigonometric Identities

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region 1

LA UNION SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE

City of San Fernando, La Union

LEARNING MATERIALS
PRE-CALCULUS
QUARTER 2 week 5-6

MELC: 1. Determine whether an equation is an identity or conditional

equation. (STEM_PC11T-IIe-1) 2. Derive the fundamental trigonometric
identities. (STEM_PC11T-IIe-2). 3. Apply trigonometric identities to find
other trigonometric values. (STEM_PC11T-IIe-2).

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Pre-Calculus
Module 14: Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
First Edition, 2020

Copyright © 2020
La Union Schools Division
Region I

All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced in any form without
written permission from the copyright owners.

Development Team of the Module

Author: Reggie C. Bustamante

Editor: SDO La Union, Learning Resource Quality Assurance Team

Content Evaluators: Erlinda M. Dela Peña, Ed.D.

Josefina Estela, MT 2
Illustrator: Ernesto F. Ramos Jr., P II

Management Team:

Atty. Donato D. Balderas, Jr.

Schools Division Superintendent

Vivian Luz S. Pagatpatan, Ph.D.

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

German E. Flora, Ph.D., CID Chief

Virgilio C. Boado, Ph.D., EPS in Charge of LRMS

Erlinda M. Dela Peña, Ed.D., EPS in Charge of Mathematics

Michael Jason D. Morales, PDO II

Claire P. Toluyen, Librarian II

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 This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

Target This provides you the skills or competencies you are

expected to learn in the learning material.

Jumpstart This introduces the lesson through varied activities

like an activity, games, graphic organizer, problem
opener, song, or a situation.

Discover This gives a brief discussion of the lesson. It intends

to help you discover and understand new concepts
and skills.

Explore This includes activities for independent practice to

intensify your understanding of the topic and to
harness your skills.

Deepen This provides activities which will encourage you to

apply your new knowledge or skills into real life
situations.

Gauge This is a task which aims to evaluate your level of

mastery in achieving the desired learning
competency.

At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of resources used in developing this

module

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of
the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer Jumpstart before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.
We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning
and gain a deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it

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 Target

Trigonometric identities (trig identities) are equalities that involve

trigonometric functions that are true for all values of the occurring variables.
These identities are useful when we need to simplify expressions involving
trigonometric functions.
In previous lessons, we have defined trigonometric functions using the
unit circle and also investigated the graphs of the six trigonometric
functions. This lesson builds on the understanding of the different
trigonometric functions by discovery, deriving, and working with
trigonometric identities

This module will provide you concepts, information and activities that
will help you understand the fundamental trigonometric identities.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. determine whether an equation is an identity or conditional equation.

(STEM_PC11T-IIe-1)
2. Derive the fundamental trigonometric identities. (STEM_PC11T-IIe-2)
3. Apply trigonometric identities to find other trigonometric values.
(STEM_PC11T-IIe-2).

Before going on, find out how much you already know about this topic.
Answer the pretest on the next page in a separate sheet of paper.

Pre-Test
Directions: Read carefully each item. Use a separate sheet for your answers.
Write only the letter of the best answer for each test item.

_____ 1. What do you call the equalities that involve trigonometric functions
that are true for all values of the occurring variables?
A. trigonometric value C. trigonometric identities
B. trigonometric ratios D. trigonometric function

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_____ 2. Which of the following describe an equation that is NOT an identity
and some values of the variable in the domain of the equation do
not satisfy the equation?
A. range C. domain
B. identity D. conditional equation

_____ 3. Which of the following is NOT an identity?

A. th t th t C. ݅h t ݅h t
B. ݅h t t t D. ݁ t ݁ t
_____ 4. Which of the following is an identity?
A. ݅h t
B. t ݅h t
C. ݅h
݁
D. t t t
_____ 5. If you simplify sin ݅h ݅h what will be the
result?
A. sin B. ݅h C. sec D. cos
_____ 6. Which of the following is equal to 1?
A. ݅h t C. ݅h t
B. ݅h t D. ݅h t
_____ 7. What is the equivalent identity of the trigonometric function
t t th ?
A. sec C. cos

B. D.
cos sec

_____ 8. If ݁ , and th th find the value of the trigonometric

function t .

A. t C. t

B. t D. t
_____ 9. Which of the following is the simplified form of the trigonometric
݅h t
expression ?
݅h
A. t B. C. ݁ D. ݅h
_____ 10. Using fundamental identities, what is the simplified form of
th ݅h
?
݅h
. A. ݁ C. ݁
B. ݁ D. ݁

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_____ 11. If you express in terms of sine, what would it be?
th
. A. ݅h C. ݅h

B. ݅h D.
݅h
_____ 12. What is the simplified form of th ݅h t?
A. cos
B.
cos
C. sec
D.
sec
csc sec
_____ 13. Which expression is the same as
cos tan
. A. ݅h t
B. t ݅h
C. ݅h t
D. t ݅h

_____ 14. Which is the correct derivation and expression of sin cot to
cos
t t t
A. ݅h t
݅h ݅h
t ݅h t
B. ݅h t
݅h ݅h
݅h ݅h t
C. ݅h t
t ݅h
݅h
D. ݅h t
t
_____ 15. Which of the following is TRUE about th ?
th ݅h t
݅h ݅h t ݅h
A.
t t ݅h t ݅h t

t ݅h t ݅h
B.
݅h t ݅h t ݅h t
݅h t ݅h t
C.
t ݅h t ݅h ݅h t
t t t ݅h
D.
݅h ݅h ݅h t ݅h t

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 Fundamental Trigonometric Identities

Jumpstart

Trigonometric identities are very useful for right angles triangles,

where you can calculate the value of its sides and angles in just minutes.
Moreover, these identities are also useful in practical life situations, for
example, calculation of the height of a building etc. Let’s find more about
such identities in this section.

For you to understand the lesson well, perform the activity below.
Have fun and good luck!

Activity 1. Which is Which?

Consider the following two groups of equations below:

1. Which Group is conditional equation? Why?

2. Which Group is Identities? Explain.

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Activity 2. Match Me!
Directions: Match the equivalent of Column A to Column B.

Discover

Identity and Conditional Equation

Recall that an equation may be true or false, depending on the values

of any variables involved. For example, the equation

t
is true only if or . An equation that is true only for certain values
of the variable, and false for others, is called a conditional equation. When
you solve a conditional equation, you are finding the values of the variable
that make the equation true.
Some equations are true for all legitimate values of the variables. Such
equations are called identities. Here are some examples of identities.
tt t
t

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 In an identity, the expressions on either side of the equal sign
are equivalent expressions, because they have the same value for all values
of the variable.
Example 1. Which of the following equations are identities?
a. t
b. t t
c.

Solution:
Many of the algebraic operations you have already learned, such as
combining like terms or applying the distributive law, produce equivalent
expressions.

a. Equation (a) is an identity obtained by combining like terms on the left

side.
b. Equation (b) is an identity obtained by applying the distributive law on
the left side.
c. Equation (c) is not an identity, because the equation is true only
for h

Of course, you wouldn't be asked to solve an identity, because all

values of the variable are solutions. Instead, we use identities to replace
one form of an expression by a more useful form. You do this when you
solve a quadratic equation by factoring. For example,

t Factor the left side.

t t t
Because t t is equivalent to , we have not changed
the equation or its solutions. But now we can apply the Zero Factor principle
and solve the equation.
Using identities is especially useful when we are working with trigonometric
ratios. Because the identity
t t
is true for any value of , it is true when is replaced, for instance,
by t . This gives us a new identity
t t t t t t

Expressions involving ݅h , t , or th can be manipulated by the same

rules (such as the distributive law or the laws of exponents) that we use with
simple variables.

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Example 2. Which of the following equations are identities?
a. ݅h ݅h t ݅h
b. t t ݅h t t t ݅h
c. th

Solution
These equations are obtained from the equations in the previous example by
replacing the variable with , the variable with , and the
variable with . Equations (a) and (b) are identities, and equation (c) is
not, for the same reasons as before.

Example 3: Identify whether the given equation is an identity or a

conditional equation. For each conditional equation, provide a
value of the variable in the domain that does not satisfy the
equation.

a.

Solution: This is an identity because thus is simply factoring of

difference of two cubes.

b. ݅h t

Solution: This is a conditional equation. If t then the left-hand

side of the equation is t, while the right-hand side is h

c. ݅h cos

Solution: This is a conditional equation. If t then both sides of the

equation are equal to t. But if then left-hand side of
the equation is t, while the right-hand side is h

d.

Solution: This is an identity because the right-hand side of the

equation is obtained by rationalizing the denominator of the
left-hand side.

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The Fundamental Trigonometric Identities

Recall that if tt is the terminal point on the unit circle cerresponding to

then we have
t
݅h t th
t

t ݁ t
t
From the definitions, the following reciprocal and quotient identities
immediately follow. Note that these identities hold if θ is taken either as a
real number or as an angle.

We can use these identities to simplify trigonometric expressions.

Example 4: Simplify by applying trigonometric identities to find other

trigonometric values

th t
a.
݅h

Solution:
݅h
t
݅h t
Step 1: Replace th by t ݅h
݅h
t
t
Step 2: Factor out (cancel) common terms
݅h
݅h
=
݅h
Step 3. Simplify = 1

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 t
b.
t

Solution:
t t
Step 1: Replace t by t
݅h
݅h

݅h
Step 2: Perform the operation t
t
݅h
=

= ݅h

Pythagorean Identity

All of the trigonometric functions are related. We begin by considering the

relationship between ݅h and t . Complete the following table with exact
values.

00
300
450
600
900

You should find that all the entries in the last column are 1. For all of the
angles in the table,

Derive this trigonometric function and apply

trigonometric identities to find other trigonometric identities

by dividing both sides of this identity by t and ݅h ,

݅h t
t t t

݅h
applying the trigonometric identity th and ݁
t t
we obtain
ꈰ h

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In the other hand
݅h t
݅h ݅h ݅h

t
applying the trigonometric identity t and
݅h ݅h
we obtain

As you might guess from its name, the Pythagorean identity is true
because it is related to the Pythagorean Theorem. We have not actually
proved the identity, and a skeptical student may wonder
if is only very close to 1, or if it equals 1 for only some
values of θ.

When we solve more complicated trigonometric equations in later

chapters, we will need to simplify trigonometric expressions so that they
involve only one of the trig functions. The Pythagorean identity is useful
when we wish to write an equivalent expression for either or
for . Note that we can write the identity in two alternate forms:

ꈰ h
h

Example 5. Simplify by applying trigonometric identities.

a. t t th
Solution: t t th
݅h
Use the identity: th
t

݅h
t t
t

݅h
t t
t

Refine: t ݅h

Use the identity: t ݅h

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 th
b.
t

th ݁ t ݅h
Solution: th
t t
݅h

c. Derive and simplify ݁ t into .

Solution: The left side of the equation contains the more complicated
expression. Thus, we work with the left side. Let us express
this side of the identity in terms of sines and cosines. Perhaps
this strategy will enable us to transform the left side into csc x,
the expression on the right.
t
Use the identity: ݁ , t
t ݅h
t
݁ t
t ݅h
t
t ݅h

݅h

b. Derive and express ݁ t into ݅h th .

Solution: Use the identity, ݁ .

t

݁ t t
t
t
t
t t
t
t t
t
t
Use the identity ݅h t
Derive the identity. ݅h t
t ݅h
t t

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 ݅h ݅h ݅h
݅h
t t

݅h
Use the identity th
t
݅h th
In addition to the eight identities presented above, we also have the
following identities.

The identities can be derived as follows:

Example 6: Use the identities to find the value of a trigonometric function.

a. If t , determine t t and ݁ t
݁ ݁
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 Solution: t t

݁
t

b. If ݅h , determine t

Solution: Using the identity ݅h t

Derive the identity. t ݅h
t ݅h

c. If ݁ , determine t

Solution: Using the identity t

݁
t

Explore

Activity 3: Identity or Conditional Equation!

Directions: Identify whether the following equations and expressions are
identity or conditional equation.
1. 6.
2. t 7. th
3. ݅h ݅h t ݅h 8. t ݅h t ݅h ݅h t
4. th 9. ݅h t

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 ݅h
5. th 10. th t th t
t

Activity 4: Simply Amazing!

Directions: Use the identities to simplify trigonometric expressions.

݅h sec
1.
t
݅h t
2.
t t
3. th ݅h t
4. ݁ th t ݁ th t
5. t ݁ ݅h
Activity 5: Derive and Simplify.
Directions: Use the identities to derive and simplify trigonometric function.

sec
1. Express in terms of sine and cosine.
cot tan

2. Derive and simplify cot into

t
3. Show your derivation that t
csc

4. By using the trigonometric identities, simplify and derive

t ݅h th into sec .

5. Derive tan cot into ݁ csc using trigonometric identities.

Activity 6: Give Me My Value!
Directions: Use the identities to find the value of a trigonometric function.

1. If t , determine ݅h .

2. If t, determine t .

3. Given that th , what is ꈰ t?

t

Here are some enrichment activities for you to work on to master and
strengthen the basic concepts you have learned from this lesson.

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 Deepen

Activity 7: Show that the equation is an identity by derive the left side into
the right side.
1. ݅h t ݅h t t
2. th t ݅h
3. t ݅h t
4. th
t
sin t
5.
t ݅h

Directions: Use the identities to find the value for theother two
trigonometric ratios.

7 – 8. t and tt ttt

9 - 10. ݅h and tt ttt

Gauge

Post Test
Directions: Read carefully each item. Use a separate sheet for your answers.
Write only the letter of the best answer for each test item.
_____ 1. What do you call the equalities that involve trigonometric functions
that are true for all values of the occurring variables?
A. trigonometric functions
B. trigonometric identities
C. trigonometric ratios
D. trigonometric value
_____ 2. Which of the following describe an expression or equation is the set
of all real values of the variable for which every term of the
expression/equation is defined in .
A. conditional C. identity
B. domain D. range

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_____ 3. What do you call an equation that is not an identity and some
values of the variable in the domain of the equation do not satisfy
the equation?
A. conditional equation C. trigonometric functions
B. identity D. trigonometric value
_____ 4. Which of the following is not an identity?
A. ݅h t t t C. t
B. ݅h th t D. ݁ th
_____ 5. Which of the following is an identity?

A. ݅h t ݅h
B. ݅h t
C. ݅h tt ݅h t
t
D. th
݅h
݅h t
_____ 6. If you simplify the trigonometric expression , what will
݅h
be the result?
A. t B. C. ݁ D. ݅h

_____ 7. What is the value of the trigonometric function cos if sin ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

_____ 8. Which of the following is the equivalent expression of t

A. t t
B. th ݅h
C. th ݁
D. t ݁
_____ 9. What is the simplified trigonometric expression of ݅h t t
in terms of sine and cosine?
A. ݅h B. C. cot D. cos
_____ 10. Which of the following is the simplified form of the trigonometric
݅h t
expression ?
݅h
A. t B. C. ݁ D. ݅h

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_____ 11. How do you express in terms of cosine?
t

. A. t C. t

B. t D.
t
_____ 12. Which of the following is the simplified t ݁ t

A.
csc
B.
sin
C. csc
D. sin
csc sec
_____ 13. What is the expression for in terms of sine and cosine?
cos tan
. A. ݅h t C. ݅h t
B. t ݅h D. t ݅h

_____ 14. What is the CORRECT derivation and expression of cot sin to
cos ?
t ݅h t
A. ݅h t
݅h ݅h
t t t
B. ݅h t
݅h ݅h
݅h ݅h t
C. ݅h t
t ݅h
݅h
D. ݅h t
t
_____ 15. Which is TRUE of the identity th ?
th ݅h t
t ݅h t ݅h
A.
݅h t ݅h t ݅h t

݅h ݅h t ݅h
B.
t t ݅h t ݅h t
݅h t ݅h t
C.
t ݅h t ݅h ݅h t
t t t ݅h
D.
݅h ݅h ݅h t ݅h t

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References
R.N. Aufmann, V.C. Barker, and R.D. Nation, College Trigonometry,
Houghton Mi✏in Company, 2008.

E.A. Cabral, M.L.A.N. De Las Pen˜as, E.P. De Lara-Tuprio, F.F. Francisco,

I.J.L. Garces, R.M. Marcelo, and J.F. Sarmiento, Precalculus,
Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2010.

R. Larson, Precalculus with Limits, Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2014.

L. Leithold, College Algebra and Trigonometry, Addison Wesley Longman Inc.,

1989, reprinted by Pearson Education Asia Pte. Ltd., 2002.

M.L. Lial, J. Hornsby, and D.I. Schneider, College Algebra and Trigonometry
and Precalculus, Addison-Wesley Educational Publisher, Inc., 2001.

J. Stewart, L. Redlin, and S. Watson, Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus,

Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2012.

M. Sullivan, Algebra & Trigonometry, Pearson Education, Inc., 2012.

C. Young, Algebra and Trigonometry, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013.

Website

Trigonometric Identities Online Math Learning: Retrieved, October 22, 2020

from, https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/trig-identities.html
Trigonometric Identities: Retrieved, October 23, 2020 from,
https://yoshiwarabooks.org/trig/Trigonometric-Identities.html

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Answer Key

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