Trigonometric Formulas and

Identities
Lesson 9a
Trigonometric Identities are trigonometric
equations that hold for all values of the variables.
Example: sin  = cos(90  ), for 0 <  < 90
Note that  and 90  are complementary
angles.
hyp
Side a is opposite θ and also 90○– θ a
adjacent to 90○– θ . θ
b
a a
sin  = and cos (90  ) = .
b b
So, sin  = cos (90  ).
L9 -- Trigo. Formulas and Identities 2
Fundamental Trigonometric Identities for 0 <  < 90.
Cofunction Identities
sin  = cos(90  ) cos  = sin(90  )
tan  = cot(90  ) cot  = tan(90  )
sec  = csc(90  ) csc  = sec(90  )
Reciprocal Identities
sin  = 1/csc  cos  = 1/sec  tan  = 1/cot 
cot  = 1/tan  sec  = 1/cos  csc  = 1/sin 

Quotient Identities
tan  = sin  /cos  cot  = cos  /sin 
Pythagorean Identities
sin2  + cos2  = 1 tan2  + 1 = sec2  cot2  + 1 = csc2 
L9 -- Trigo. Formulas and Identities 3
Example:
Given sin  = 0.25, find cos , tan , and sec .
Draw a right triangle with acute angle , hypotenuse of length
one, and opposite side of length 0.25.

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for

the third side. 1
0.25
0.25 θ
cos  = = 0.9682
0.9682 0.9682
0.9682
tan  = = 0.258
1
1
sec  = = 1.033
0.9682

L9 -- Trigo. Formulas and Identities 4

Example: Given sec  = 4, find the values of the
other five trigonometric functions of  .
Draw a right triangle with an angle  such
hyp 4 4 15
that 4 = sec  = = .
adj 1
θ
Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve
1
for the third side of the triangle.
15 1= 4
sin  = csc  =
4 sin  15
1 1
cos  = sec  = =4
4 cos 
1
tan  = 15= 15 cot  =
1 15
L9 -- Trigo. Formulas and Identities 5
Example:
Given sin  = 0.25, find cos , tan , and sec .
Draw a right triangle with acute angle , hypotenuse of length
one, and opposite side of length 0.25.

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for

the third side. 1
0.25
0.25 θ
cos  = = 0.9682
0.9682 0.9682
0.9682
tan  = = 0.258
1
1
sec  = = 1.033
0.9682

L9 -- Trigo. Formulas and Identities 6