Trig Identities

A trig identity is an equation involving trig functions that is true for all angles.

Reciprocal Identities Quotient Identities Pythagorean Identities

1
𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃, where 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 ≠ 0 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 = 1
𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 =
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃
1
𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝜃 = , where 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 ≠ 0 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝜃 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝜃 =
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃
1
𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃, where 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 ≠ 0 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝜃 = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝜃

𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
Example #1: Prove that 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 =
(𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃)(1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃)

Example #2: Prove that 1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 ⋅ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 ⋅ 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃

 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
Example #3: Prove that 1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 = 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃

The conjugate of an expression 𝑎 + 𝑏 is 𝑎 − 𝑏. Thus multiplying something with its conjugate leads to a
difference of squares.
(𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏) = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2

Useful trig tips:

1. Start by working with the more complicated side, you will have more tools to choose from.
2. Rewrite parts of the equation involving tangent or reciprocal trig ratios using sine and cosine.
3. Try factoring expressions where you can
4. Sometimes multiplying by the conjugate can help

Textbook pg 310 #2, 3abd, 4, 5, 8acf (You may ignore the parts asking about restrictions)