Sum and Difference

5.4 Formulas

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What You Should Learn
• Use sum and difference formulas to evaluate
trigonometric functions, verify trigonometric
identities, and solve trigonometric equations.

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Using Sum and Difference Formulas

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Using Sum and Difference Formulas
In this section and the following section, you will study the
uses of several trigonometric identities and formulas.

You need to memorize these formulas ASAP.

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Example 1 – Evaluating a Trigonometric
Function
Find the exact value of (a) cos 75 ° and (b) sin .

Solution:
a. Using the fact that 75 ° = 30 ° + 45 ° with the formula for
cos(u + v) yields
cos 75 ° = cos(30 ° + 45 °)
= cos 30  cos 45  – sin 30  sin 45 

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Example 1 – Solution cont’d

Try checking this result on your calculator. You will find

that
cos 75   0.259.

b. Using the fact that

with the formula for sin (u – v) yields

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Example 1 – Solution cont’d

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Example 3 – An Application of a Sum Formula

Write cos(arctan 1 + arccos x) as an algebraic expression.

Solution:
This expression fits the formula for cos(u + v). Angles
u = arctan 1 and v = arccos x are shown in Figures 5.21
and 5.22, respectively.

Figure 5.21 Figure 5.22

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Example 3 – An Application of a Sum Formula

cos(u + v) = cos(arctan 1) cos(arccos x)

– sin(arctan 1) sin(arccos x)