Trigonometry 3

1. Addition formula (compound angle formula)

sin( A B)=sin A cos B cos A sin B

What are compound

angles?

cos ( A B )=cos A cos B sin A sin B

The sum and

difference of any 2
angles A and B
Angles like A+B, A-B,

tan ( A B )=

tan A tan B
1 tan A tan B

Example 1
Given that sin A=

8
17

and A is obtuse and cos B=

12
13

and B is acute,

without calculators,
find the value of
i) sin ( A +B)

ii)

iii)

cos ( AB)

tan ( A+ B)

Example 2
Evaluate without calculators,
i) sin 75
1tan 15
1+ tan 15

ii)

iii)

cos 15

2. Multiple angle formula

Double angle formula
sin 2 A=2 sin A cos A
2

cos 2 A=12 sin A

2

2 cos A1
2
2
cos Asin A
*Note that

A
A
1tan

tan 2 A=

2 tanA
1tan 2 A

Half

angle formula
Similarly, this
concept can be
applied for other
angles as well

sin A=2 sin

1
1
A cos A
2
2

cos A=12 sin2

2 cos2

1
A
2

1
A1
2
2

cos

1
21
Asin A
2
2

1
A
2
tan A=
1
1tan 2 A
2
2 tan

Other multiple angle formula

sin 4 A=2 sin 2 A cos 2 A
2

cos 4 A=12 sin 2 A

Try to think of some

more multiple angle
formulae!

tan 6 A=

Example 3
Given that cos A=

3
5

and 180 < A <360 , find the value of the following

calculators,
i) cos 2 A

ii)

tan 2 A

(Hint: half angle formula)

Example 4
Solve the following equations for 0 x 360
i) 3 cos 2 x+5 cos x=0
ii) 4 sin x=sec x

1
2

iii) cos A

3. The R-formula

When to use?
Convert sum of 2
different type
trigonometric ratios
to one trigonometric

a cos + b sin=R cos ( )

a cos b sin =R cos (+ )

Note:
Remember to take
note of the +/- sign
when using the Rformula

a sin +b cos =R sin(+ )

a sin b cos =R sin ( )

Equations of the

where

R= an
a + b
2

tan =

Example 5

b
a

form

a cos + b sin=c

can be solved by
first converting
them using Rformula

Express 4 sin+ 3 cos in the form R sin(+ ) , where R is positive and is

acute.
Hence find the maximum and minimum values of the expression
4 sin+ 3 cos .
Find also the values of for which these values occur, where
0 360 .

Solve the equation 4 sin+ 3 cos =5 .

Example 6
Express

5 cos 2 +12sin 2

in the form

R cos( ) , where R is positive and

is acute.
Hence, or otherwise, find the maximum value of

1
5 cos 2+12 sin 2+ 6

and

the smallest positive value of at which the maximum occurs, where

0 360 .

4. The factor formula

sin A +sin B=2 sin

A+ B
AB
cos
2
2
When to use?

A+ B
AB
sin Asin B=2cos
sin
2
2
cos A+cos B=2 cos

A+ B
AB
cos
2
2

cos Acos B=2 sin

A+ B
AB
sin
2
2

Expressed in product to sum form:

2 sin A cos B=sin ( A + B ) +sin ( AB)
2 sin A cos B=sin ( A + B ) +sin ( AB)
2 sin A cos B=sin ( A + B ) +sin ( AB)
2 sin A cos B=sin ( A + B ) +sin ( AB)

Example 7
Solve sin 3 x+sin 5 x=0

Example 8

for 0 x 360 .

Convert sum of 2
same type
trigonometric ratios
to product of 2
different type

Solve cos x +cos 2 x+ cos 3 x+cos 4 x=0 for 0 x 360 .

More examples
Example 9
Prove the identity sin 3 x 3 sin x4 sin 3 x . Hence or otherwise, solve the
equation 8 sin3 x=2+6 sin x for 0 x 360 .

Example 10
Solve the equation cos x cos 2 xsin x sin 4 x=0 for 0 x 180 .

Example 11
2
2
Show that +sin 3 + sin 5 +sin 7 =16 sin cos cos 2 .

sin