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1. Reciprocal Identities
From the definition of the trigonometric functions,
y r
sin θ= and csc θ= .
r y
If we multiply the two functions,
y r
sin θ csc θ= . =1.
r y
Similarly,
x r
cos θ= and sec θ= ,
r x
so
x r
csc θ sec θ= . =1,
r x
and
y x
tanθ= and cot θ= ,
x y
so
y x
tanθ cot θ= . =1.
x y
2. Pythagorean Identities
These identities are based on the relation x 2+ y 2=r 2, between the coordinates of a point and its radius
vector. Each identity is obtained by dividing the relation by x 2 , y 2∨r 2 and then applying the definitions
of the functions.
()() ()
x 2 y 2 r 2
+ =
r r r
x y
and from the definitions cos θ= and sin θ= , we have
r r
2 2
cos θ+sin θ=1.
If we divide the relation by x , we have
()() ()
2 2 2
x y r
+ =
x x x
we have
2 2
cot θ+1=csc θ .
Hence,
sin θ
tanθ= .
± √ 1−sin θ
2
cos θ tanθ=sin θ
2
sec A−1
EXAMPLE 3: Change to tan A sec A
sin A
Solution:
2 2
sec A−1 tan A 2 2
¿ (sec A−1=tan A)
sin A sin A
sin 2 A
cos 2 A
¿
sin A
2
sin A 1
¿ 2
.
cos A sin A
sin A
¿
cos2 A
sin A 1
¿ .
cos A cos A
¿ tan A sec A
C. Proving Identities
In proving identities, we must show that the left and right sides of the given equation are just different
forms of the same expression. There is no best procedure in proving that an equation is an identity, but it
is good to work on the more complicated side so that the application of algebraic operations can reduce it
to the other simpler form.
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We may work with the left side only, or with the right side only, or with both in order to obtain exactly the
same expression.
CAUTION: In proving identities, strictly:
NO transposition of terms from one side to the other, and
NO cross multiplication
Since these two processes will change the value of each side of the equation.
2 2
sin θ+ cos θ
EXAMPLE 2: Prove: csc θ sec θ=
sin θ cos θ
Solution: Here, we will simplify the right side.
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1
sin θ+cos θ=2 sin 45 ° cos (2 θ−90 °)
2
sin θ+cos θ=2 sin 45 ° cos(θ−45°)
cos B=( )
3 π
, 0< B<
5 2
(d) cos ( B2 )
(e) sin 2 A
Solution: Draw the figure for both angles A and B, draw the reference triangle and solve the third side.
¿ ( )( )
12
25
+
12
25
24
¿
25
2 tan B
(c) tan2 B ¿
1−tan 2 B
¿
2 ()
4
3
()
2
4
1−
3
8
3
¿
16
1−
9
8
3
¿
−7
9
8 9
¿ .−
3 7
24
¿−
7
(d) cos ( )
B
2
¿±
√
1+cos B
2
√
3
1+ choose + sign since B lies in B
5
¿
2
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√
8
5
¿
2
¿
√ 8 1
.
5 2
¿
√ 4
5
2 2 √5
¿ ∨
√5 5
(e) sin 2 A ¿ 2 sin A cos A
¿2
3 4
5 5( )( )
24
¿
25
EXAMPLE 2: Use the indicated trigonometric identity to find the exact value of
Solution:
( )( ) ( )( )
¿ √ . √ − √ .
2
2
2
3
2
2 1
2
¿
√6−√ 2
4
√ √√√
3
1−
2
¿+
3
1+
2
√√
2−√ 3
2
¿+
2+ √3
2
2−√3
¿
2+ √ 3
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