Lesson 2: Sum, Difference, and Double Angle Formulas
Warmup: Write down the primary Pythagorean Identity and derive the other two
identities from it.
We can use the sine, cosine, and tangent ratios of two angles to determine the exact
sine, cosine, and tangent ratios for the sum/difference of these two angles.
The formula to calculate the exact cosine value for the sum of two angles is:
cos (α + β)=cos α∗cos β −sin α∗sin β
The formula to calculate the exact cosine value for the difference of two angles is:
cos (α −β )=cos α∗cos β+ sin α∗sin β
The formula to calculate the exact sine value for the sum of two angles is:
sin(α + β )=sin α∗cos β+ cos α∗sin β
The formula to calculate the exact sine value for the difference of two angles is:
sin(α −β)=sin α∗cos β−cos α∗sin β
The formula to calculate the exact tangent value for the difference of two angles is:
tan α −tan β
tan(α −β )=
1+ tan α ⋅ tan β
The formula to calculate the exact tangent value for the sum of two angles is:
tan α +tan β
tan(α + β)=
1−tan α ⋅ tan β
Describe in your notebook how we can use these formulas to determine the
cosecant, secant, or cotangent ratios for the sum/difference of two angles.
1. Use your formulas to confirm the cofunction identities from Lesson 1:
π π
sin( −x)=cosx cos ( −x )=sinx
2 2
*** Would it change the answer if you use the difference formula and let β= x or use the sum
formula and let β= -x?
11π 11π
2. Consider sin ( ) . How can you break up into the sum of two unit circle angles?
12 12
11π
How can you break up into the difference of two unit circle angles?
12
π
3. Consider tan( ). Which would be an easier way to calculate the ratio? Why? (HINT: Think
12
about how you would have to simplify your answer after you determine the tangent ratios).
π π
tan( )−tan( )
π π 4 6
tan( − )=
4 6 π π
1+ tan( )⋅ tan( )
4 6
π π
tan( )−tan( )
π π 3 4
tan( − )=
3 4 π π
1+ tan( )⋅ tan( )
3 4
5. Calculate the following exact trig ratios. Consider equivalent expressions for your answers.
23 π
a. tan¿ ) b. tan (195°) c. sin ¿) d. csc ( 12 )
e. cot ¿) f. tan¿ ) g. cos ¿ ) h. sec ¿ )
6.
7. Calculate the exact value of each of the following under the given conditions:
Conditions:
5 3π −1 3π
tan α = where π < α < and sin β= where < β <2 π
12 2 2 2
a) sin(α + β ) b) cos (α −β ) c) cot (α + β )
8. Now let’s write the formulas for the exact sine and cosine values of angles that are double
the measure of an angle α . Use the sum formulas above to write the formula for cos (2𝛂), the
formula for sin(2𝛂), and the formula for tan(2𝛂).
9. Calculate the exact value of each of the following under the given conditions:
π
Conditions: csc α =√ ❑ where <α < π
2
a) sin(2 α ) b) cos (2 α ) c) cot (2 α )
Answer Key:
2. √ ❑
❑
5.
a. 1+❑√❑ b. √❑❑
c. −❑√❑ d. √4❑ −√❑
e. 1−❑√❑ f. 1+❑√❑−2− √❑
g. √❑❑ h. √4❑
12−5 √ ❑ 5−12 √ ❑ 12 √ ❑
7. a) ❑ b) ❑ c) ❑
−2 √❑
9. a) ❑ b) ⅓ c) −√ ❑
❑
