14

Lesson

TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITIES
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Standards
Learning Outcome 3: Space, shape and measurement
Assessment Standard
Derive and use the following identities:
tan =_
sin

cos
sin2 + cos2 = 1

Overview
In this lesson you will:

Use x, y and r to derive the above two identities.

Use the above identities to simplify trigonometric expressions.
Use the above identities to prove more complicated trigonometric
identities.

Lesson
To simplify or prove trig expressions or identities, we need to change everything
to sin and/or cos .
y
1.
tan = _

x
_y
sin _
_
=_xr
and cos

r

y
= _r _xr

= _x

sin

so tan = _
cos

2.

The magic ONE of trigonometry

By Pythagoras

r2

r
r
y
but _x = cos and _ = sin

so

Very important: sin2 = 1 cos2

cos2 = 1 sin2

x2 + y2 = r2
y2 r2
x2 _
_
+ 2 = _

2
2
r

cos2 + sin2 = 1

Lets use what we have learnt

1
2
1.
Simplify:_
2 (1 sin )
cos

Solution
_
1
cos2 = 1 (Using 1 sin2 = cos2 )
cos2

Page 54

2.

sin
1
Prove:__

+_
1
= __

1 + cos tan tan cos

Solution
When we prove an identity we have to show that what is on the LHS is exactly
what is written on the RHS. So sometimes we need to simplify both to show
this. Remember to keep the sides separate.
+ tan x = __
cosx
Prove that _
1

cosx
1sinx
sinx
1
_

LHS: _
cosx cosx
1+sinx __
1sinx

=__
cosx

1sinx

2

=__
1sin
x
cosx(1sinx)
2
x
__

=__
cos
=

cos x
cosx(1sinx) 1sinx

LHS RHS

3.

1 =_
1

Prove that sintan

__
1cos
cos

Proof:
sin
sin_

cos

1
LHS =__

1cos
sin2

1
= __

cos(1cos)
2
(1 cos )

1
=__

cos(1cos)
(1cos)(1+cos)

1
=___
cos(1cos
1+cos _

cos
cos

= __
cos
1+coscos

= __

cos

=_
1
cos

= RHS

4.

2
1 sin x
1x
tanx) = __

Prove (_
cos
1 + sin x

Solution
sin x )2
LHS (_
1
_

(tan x =_
sin xx)

cos

1 sin x )2
cos x

= (_

(LCD cos x)

(1 sin x)

=__

1 sin2 x

(cos2 x = 1 sin2 x)

(1 sin x)

=___

(1 sin x)(1 + sin x)

(a2 b2 = (a b)(a + b))

cos x

cos x

= __
1 sin x
1 + sin x
RHS

Paggee 155
P

Lesson 1 | Algebra

5.

Prove:
sin A
1 + cos A _

+__

=
2
a) __

b)

1 + cos A

sin A

sin A
2007
1 + cos 2007

+__
sin 2007

Hence evaluate __
1 +sincos
2007

Solutions

sin A
1 + cos A _

+__
sin A

=sin
2A
a) __
1 + cos A

sin A + (1 + cos A)
LHS ___
sin A(1 +

cos A)

sin A + 1 + 2cos A + cos A

= ____
sin A(1 + cos A)

2 + 2cos A

= ___
(sin A)(1 + cos A)

2(1 + cos A)

= __
sin A(1 + cos A)

2
= RHS
= _
sin A

b)

sin x
1 + cos x _
__
We proved__

+

=
sin2x
1 + cos x
sin x

sin 2007
1 + cos 2007

+__
sin 2007

so__
1 + cos 2007

= __
2
sin 2007

= 4,405

Activity
1.

tan2 1
Simplify__

cos2

2.

Simplify 1 sin2 + cos2

3.

cos A
1
Simplify_
_

sin A tan A

4.
5.

Page 56

2
Simplify tan2 cos2 + _
sin

tan2

sin A sin3 A _
Prove__

= 1

cos A cos3 A tan A

6.

___
Prove1 + 2sin
cos
= sin + cos

7.

1 tan x __
Prove __

= cos x sin x

1 + tan x cos x + sin x

8.

tan2

= sin2
Prove__
1 + tan2

9.

1
sin x) = _
1
cos2 x
Prove(_
sin x
tan2 x

10.

1 2cos2

= tan _
1

Prove__
cos sin
tan

11.

1
__
1
=__
1
Prove_
sin2 A tan Asin A 1 + cos A

12.

Prove tan2 sin2 = tan2 sin2

13.

sin

= 1 cos
Prove__
1 + cos

14.

sin x __
1 + cos x

Prove_
cos x

sin x