CHAPTER 21

Derivatives of Trig Functions

I n Part 3 we have introduced the idea of a derivative of a function, which

we defined in terms of a limit. Then we began the task of finding rules
that compute derivatives without limits. Here is our list of rules so far.
h i
Constant function rule: D x c = 0
h i
Identity function rule: Dx x = 1
h i
Power rule: D x x n = nx n°1
h i
Exponential rule: D x ex = ex
h i
Constant multiple rule: D x c f (x) = c f 0 (x)
h i
Sum-difference rule: D x f (x) ± g(x) = f 0 (x) ± g0 (x)
h i
Product rule: D x f (x)g(x) = f 0 (x)g(x) + f (x)g0 (x)
h f (x) i f 0 (x)g(x) ° f (x)g0 (x)
Quotient rule: Dx =
g(x) g( x)2

In this chapter we will expand this list by adding six new rules for the
derivatives of the six trigonometric functions:
h i h i h i h i h i h i
D x sin(x) D x tan(x) D x sec(x) D x cos(x) D x csc(x) D x cot(x)

This will require a few ingredients. First, we will need the addition
formulas for sine and cosine (Equations 3.12 and 3.13 on page 46):

sin(Æ + Ø) = sin(Æ) cos(Ø) + cos(Æ) sin(Ø)

cos(Æ + Ø) = cos(Æ) cos(Ø) ° sin(Æ) sin(Ø)

Recall also from Chapter 3 the fundamental identity sin2 (x) + cos2 (x) = 1.
254 Derivatives of Trig Functions

And we will need these limits from Theorem 10.2 (Chapter 10, page 152):

cos(h) ° 1 sin(h)
lim =0 and lim = 1.
h!0 h h !0 h

Let’s start by computing the derivative of f (x) = sin(x).

f (x + h) ° f (x)
f 0 (x) = lim (Definition 16.1)
h !0 h
sin(x + h) ° sin(x)
= lim ( f (x) = sin(x))
h !0 h
sin(x) cos(h) + cos(x) sin(h) ° sin(x)
= lim (addition formula for sin)
h !0 h
sin(x) cos(h) ° sin(x) + cos(x) sin(h)
= lim (regroup)
h !0 h
° ¢
sin(x) cos(h) ° 1 + cos(x) sin(h)
= lim (factor out sin(x))
h !0 h
µ ° ¢ ∂
sin(x) cos(h) ° 1 cos(x) sin(h)
= lim + (break up fraction)
h !0 h h
µ ∂
cos(h) ° 1 sin(h)
= lim sin(x) + cos(x)
h !0 h h
cos(h) ° 1 sin(h)
= lim sin(x) · lim + lim cos(x) · lim (limit laws)
h !0 h!0 h h!0 h!0 h
= sin(x) · 0 + cos(x) · 1 (Theorem 10.2)
= cos(x).

Therefore the derivative of sin(x) is cos(x). This is our latest derivative rule.
h i
Rule 9 D x sin(x) = cos(x)

This rule makes sense when we compare the graph of sin(x) with its
derivative cos(x). The tangent to sin(x) has slope 0 at integer multiples of º2 ,
and these are exactly the places that cos(x) = 0. And notice that where the
tangent to sin(x) has positive slope, cos(x) is positive; where the tangent to
sin(x) has negative slope, cos(x) is negative. As the derivative of sin(x), cos(x)
equals the slope of the tangent to sin(x) at (x, sin(x)).
y
y = sin(x) y = cos(x)

x
°º ° º2 º º 3º 2º 5º 3º
2 2 2
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£ §
So what is the derivative of cos(x)? Since D x sin(x) = cos(x), you might
£ §
first guess that D x cos(x) = sin(x). But this is not quite right because for
0 < x < º the tangents to cos(x) have negative slope, while sin(x) is positive.
£ §
However, the graphs below suggest D x cos(x) = ° sin(x).
y
y = cos(x)

x
°º ° º2 º º 3º 2º 5º 3º
2 2 2
y = ° sin(x)

In fact this turns out to be exactly right. This chapter’s Exercise 19 asks
you to adapt the computation on the previous page to get the following rule.
h i
Rule 10 D x cos(x) = ° sin(x)

We now have derivative rules for sin and cos. Next, let’s compute the
derivative of tan(x). We will use the rules we just derived in conjunction
with the quotient rule and familiar identities.
h i ∑ ∏
sin(x)
D x tan(x) = Dx
cos(x)
h i h i
D x sin(x) cos(x) ° sin(x)D x cos(x)
=
cos2 (x)
° ¢
cos(x) cos(x) ° sin(x) ° sin(x) cos2 (x) + sin2 (x)
= =
cos2 (x) cos2 (x)
µ ∂2
1 1
= = = sec2 (x)
cos2 (x) cos(x)
h i
We have a new rule: Rule 11 D x tan(x) = sec2 (x)

Exercise 20 asks you to do a similar computation to show that

h i
Rule 12 D x cot(x) = ° csc2 (x)

These two latest formulas fit the shapes of the graphs of tan and cot as
suggested by Figure 21.1.
256 Derivatives of Trig Functions

y= tan(x) y= cot(x)
y y

x x
°º º 2º 3º °º º 2º 3º

Figure 21.1. Any tangent line to the graph of y = tan(x) has positive slope.
Indeed the slope of the tangent at x is the positive number y0 = sec2 (x). Any
tangent line to the graph of y = cot(x) has negative slope; the slope of the
tangent at x is the negative number y0 = ° csc2 (x).

There are just two more trig functions to consider: sec and csc. We have
h i h i
h i ∑ ∏ D x 1 · cos(x) ° 1 · D x cos(x)
1
D x sec(x) = Dx =
cos(x) cos2 (x)
° ¢
0 · cos(x) ° 1 · ° sin(x)
=
cos2 (x)
sin(x) 1 sin(x)
= 2
= · = sec(x) tan(x).
cos (x) cos(x) cos(x)
h i
This is our latest rule. Rule 13 D x sec(x) = sec(x) tan(x)

This chapter’s Exercise 21 asks you to do a similar computation to prove

h i
Rule 14 D x csc(x) = ° csc(x) cot(x) .

We now have derivative rules for all six trig functions, which was this
chapter’s goal. Here is a summary of what we’ve discovered.

Derivatives of Trig Functions

h i h i h i
D x sin(x) = cos(x) D x tan(x) = sec2 (x) D x sec(x) = sec(x) tan(x)
h i h i h i
D x cos(x) = ° sin(x) D x cot(x) = ° csc2 (x) D x csc(x) = ° csc(x) cot(x)
 257

sin(x)
Example 21.1 Find the derivative of y = .
x2 + 1
This is a quotient, so we use the quotient rule combined with our new rule
for the derivative of sin.
h i° ¢ h i
∑
sin(x)
∏ D x sin(x) x2 + 1 ° sin(x)D x x2 + 1
Dx = ° ¢2
x2 + 1 x2 + 1
° ¢
cos(x) x2 + 1 ° sin(x)2x
= ° ¢2
x2 + 1

Example 21.2 Find the derivative of x2 + x3 tan(x) + º.

This is the sum of a power, a product and a constant, so we begin with the
sum-difference rule, breaking the problem into three separate derivatives,
then using applicable rules.
h i h i h i h i
D x x2 + x3 tan(x) + º = D x x2 + D x x3 tan(x) + D x º
h i h i
= 2x + D x x3 tan(x) + x3 D x tan(x) + 0
| {z }
product rule

= 2x + 3x2 tan(x) + x3 sec2 (x)

With practice you will quickly reach the point where you will do such a
problem in your head, in one step. (You may already be there.)
e w sec(w) dz
Example 21.3 If z = , find the derivative .
w dw
This is a quotient, so our first step is to apply the quotient rule.
£ § £ §
dz D w e w sec(w) · w + e w sec(w) · D w w
=
dw w2
£ §
This now involves D w e w sec(w) , and that requires the product rule.
° £ § £ §¢
D w e w sec(w) + e w D w sec(w) · w + e w sec(w) · 1
=
w2
° ¢
e w sec(w) + e w sec(w) tan(w) · w + e w sec(w)
=
w2
° ¢
e w sec(w) w + w tan(w) + 1
=
w2
 258 Derivatives of Trig Functions

Example 21.4 Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of y =
° ° ¢¢
cos(x) at the point º6 , cos º6 .
° ¢
The slope of the tangent line at the point x, cos(x) is given by the derivative
dy
dx = ° sin(x). In this problem
≥ ¥
we are interested in the tangent line at the
p
°º ° º ¢¢ °º¢
exact point 6 , cos 6 = º
,
6 2
3
, so that tangent line has slope ° sin 6 = ° 12 .

y
≥ p ¥
º 3
6, 2 y = cos(x)

x
°º º º º 2º
6 2

≥ p ¥
So we are looking for the equation of the line through the point 6 2 ,
º
, 3
with
slope ° 12 . We can get this with the point-slope formula for a line.

y ° y0 = m (x ° x0 )
p
3 1≥ º¥
y° = ° x°
2 2 6
p
1 º 3
y = ° x+ +
2 12 2
p
1 º+6 3
Answer: The equation of the tangent line is y = ° x + .
2 12

Exercises for Chapter 21

In exercises 1–14 find the derivative of the indicated function.
p 1
1. y = 3
x sin( x) 2. f ( r ) = 5r ° cos(r ) +
r
3. f ( z) = sin2 ( z) 4. y = x4 tan( x)
5. y = x2 sec( x) 1
6. f (r ) = 3 e r ° + sin( r )
r2 p
1 8. f (µ ) = 5µ ° cot(µ ) + µ
7. y = tan( x) + + e2 + 3
x2
3 10. y = tan2 ( x)
9. f (s) = tan( s) ° 2 + 2 e s
s
p
x cos( x) x sin( x)
11. y = 12. y =
x3 + 1 ex
x2 + 5 x cos( x)
13. y = 14. y =
x + sec( x) sin( x) + 1
 259

dz 5 tan(w) dz p
15. Find if z = + . 16. Find if z = w + 5(w + 1) sec(w).
dw w w+1 dw
° ¢ ° ¢ ° ¢ ° ¢
sin º3 + h ° sin º3 tan º4 + h ° tan º4
17. Find lim 18. Find lim
h !0 h h !0 h
£ § £ §
19. Adapt this chapter’s derivation of the rule D x sin( x) = cos( x) to show that D x cos( x) =
° sin( x).
£ §
20. Adapt
£
this
§
chapter’s derivation of the rule D x tan( x) = sec2 ( x) to show that
D x cot( x) = ° csc2 ( x).
£ §
21. Adapt
£
this
§
chapter’s derivation of the rule D x sec( x) = sec( x) tan( x) to show that
D x csc( x) = ° csc( x) cot( x).

22. Suppose f ( x) = ( x2 ° º2 ) cos( x). Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph
of f ( x) at the point (º, f (º)).
sin( x)
23. Suppose f ( x) = . Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of f ( x)
x
at the point (º, f (º)).
24. Suppose f ( x) = x3 ° x + 2. Find the equation of the line tangent to the graph of
f ( x) at the point (2, 8).
25. Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of y = sin( x) at the point where
x = º.
p
26. Find all values of x for which the tangents the graphs of y = 3 sin( x) and y =
° cos( x) are parallel.

27. Find all values of x for which the tangents the graphs of y = x sin( x) and y =
x2 /4 ° cos( x) are parallel.
 260 Derivatives of Trig Functions

Exercise Solutions for Chapter 21

p 1 1/3°1 sin( x) p
1. y = 3
x sin( x) = x1/3 sin( x) y0 = x sin( x) + x1/3 cos( x) = p 2 + 3 x cos( x)
3 33x
3. f ( z) = sin2 ( z) = sin( z) sin( z) f 0 ( z) = cos( z) sin( z) + sin( z) cos( z) = 2 sin( z) cos( z)
5. y = x2 sec( x) By product rule: y0 = 2 x sec( x) + x2 sec( x) tan( x)
1 2
7. y = tan( x) + 2
+ e2 +3 = tan( x) + x°2 + e2 +3 y0 = sec2 ( x) ° 2 x°3 +0+0 = sec2 ( x) ° 3
x x
3 6
9. f (s) = tan( s) ° 2 + 2 e s f 0 ( s) = sec2 ( s) + 3 + 2 e s
s s
h i h i
p D x x1/2 cos( x) ( x3 + 1) ° x1/2 cos( x) · D x x3 + 1
x cos( x) x1/2 cos( x)
11. y = = y0 =
x3 + 1 x3 + 1 ( x3 + 1)2
µ ∂
1 °1/2
x cos( x) + x (° sin( x)) ( x3 + 1) ° x1/2 cos( x)3 x2
1/2
2
=
( x3 + 1)2
µ ∂
cos( x) p p
p ° x sin( x) ( x3 + 1) ° x cos( x)3 x2
2 x
=
( x3 + 1)2
° ¢ ° 2 ¢° ¢
x2 + 5 2 x x + sec( x) ° x + 5 1 + sec( x) tan( x)
13. y = 0
y = ° ¢2
x + sec( x) x + sec( x)
5 tan(w) tan(w)
15. z = + = 5w°1 + .
w w+1 w+1
dz sec2 (w)(w + 1) ° tan(w) · 1 5 sec2 (w)(w + 1) ° tan(w)
Answer: = °5w°2 + = ° +
dw (w + 1)2 w2 (w + 1)2
sin (º/3 + h) ° sin (º/3)
17. Find lim . Let f ( x) = sin( x). Then by the definition of the
h !0 h
1
derivative, this limit equals f 0 (º/3) = cos(º/3) = .
2
£ § £ §
19. Adapt the derivation of the rule D x sin( x) = cos( x) to prove D x cos( x) = ° sin( x).
h i cos( x + h) ° cos( x)
D x cos( x) = lim (Definition 16.1)
h !0 h
cos( x) cos( h) ° sin( x) sin( h) ° cos( x)
= lim (addition formula for cos)
h !0 h
cos( x) cos( h) ° cos( x) ° sin( x) sin( h)
= lim (regroup)
h !0 h
° ¢
cos( x) cos( h) ° 1 + sin( x) sin( h)
= lim (factor out sin( x))
h !0 h
µ ∂
cos( h) ° 1 sin( h)
= lim cos( x) ° sin( x) (break up fraction)
h !0 h h
cos( h) ° 1 sin( h)
= lim cos( x) · lim ° lim sin( x) · lim (limit laws)
h !0 h!0 h h!0 h !0 h
= cos( x) · 0 ° sin( x) · 1 = ° sin( x). (Theorem 10.2)
 261

£ §
21. Adapt
£
this§
chapter’s derivation of the rule D x sec( x) = sec( x) tan( x) to show that
D x csc( x) = ° csc( x) cot( x). h i h i
∑ ∏ ° ¢
h i 1 D x 1 · sin( x) ° 1 · D x sin( x) 0 · sin( x) ° 1 · cos( x)
Dx csc( x) = D x = =
sin( x) sin2 ( x) sin2 ( x)
° cos( x) 1 cos( x)
= 2
= ° · = ° csc( x) cot( x).
sin ( x) sin( x) sin( x)
sin( x)
23. Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of f ( x) = at (º, f (º)).
x
cos( x) x ° sin( x) · 1
The slope of the line is given by the derivative f 0 ( x) = . The line
x2
passes through the point (º, f (º)) = (º, 0). At this point the slope of the tangent
cos(º)º ° sin(º) °1 · º ° 0 1
line is m = f 0 (º) = = = ° . We can get the equation of the
º2 º2 º
line by the point-slope formula:

y ° y0 = m( x ° x0 )
1
y°0 = ° ( x ° º)
º
1
Answer: y = ° x + 1.
º

25. Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of y = sin( x) at the point x = º.

We are looking for the tangent at the point (º, sin(º)) = (º, 0). The slope of the
dy
line is given by the derivative = cos( x). At (º, 0) the slope of the tangent line
Ø dx
d y ØØ
is m = = cos(º) = °1. The point-slope formula gives the line’s equation:
dx Ø x=º

y ° y0 = m ( x ° x0 )
y°0 = ° ° 1 · ( x ° º)
Answer: y = ° x + º.