AN IDENTITY IS AN EQUALITY that is true for any value of the variable.

(An equation is an equality that is true only for certain values of the variable.) In algebra, for example, we have this identity: (x + 5)(x 5) = x 25. The significance of an identity is that, in calculation, we may replace either member of the identity with the other. We use an identity to give an expression a more convenient form. In calculus and all its applications, the trigonometric identities are of central importance. On this page, we will present the main identities. The student will have no better way of practicing algebra than by proving them. Links to the proofs appear below. Reciprocal identities sin = 1 csc 1 sec 1 cot csc = 1 sin 1 cos 1 tan

cos =

sec =

tan Proof

cot

Again, the point about an identity is that, in calculation, we may replace either member of the identity with the other. Thus if we see "sin ", then we may, if we wish, replace it with " 1 "; and, csc

1 symmetrically, if we see " ", then we may replace it with "sin ". csc Tangent and cotangent identities tan Proof = sin cos cot = cos sin

Pythagorean identities a) b) c) sin + cos = 1 1 + tan = sec 1 + cot = csc

a')

sin

= 1 cos .

cos = 1 sin .

These are called Pythagorean identities, because, as we will see in their proof, they are the trigonometric version of the Pythagorean theorem. The two identities labeled a') -- "a-prime" -- are simply different versions of a). The first shows how we can express sin in terms of cos ; the second shows how we can express cos in terms of sin . Note: sin -- "sine squared theta" -- means (sin ). Example 1. Show:

Solution: The problem means that we are to write the left-hand side, and then show, through substitutions and algebra, that we can transform it to look like the right hand side. We begin:

Reciprocal identities

on adding the fractions

Pythagorean identities

Reciprocal identities That is what we wanted to show.

Sum and difference formulas sin ( sin ( cos ( cos ( + + ) ) ) ) = = = = sin sin cos cos cos + cos sin cos cos sin cos sin sin cos + sin sin

Note: In the sine formulas, + or on the left is also + or on the right. But in the cosine formulas, + on the left becomes on the right; and vice-versa. Since these identities are proved directly from geometry, the student is not normally required to master the proof. However, all the identities that follow are based on these sum and difference formulas. The student should definitely know them. To see the proof of the sum formulas, click here. Example 2. Evaluate sin 15. Solution. sin 15

Formulas

Topics 4 and 5

Example 3. Prove:

Solution.

Tangent identity

Formulas

We will now construct tan by dividing the first term in the numerator by cos cos . But then we must divide every term by cos cos :

That is what we wanted to prove. Double-angle formulas

Proof There are three versions of cos 2 . The first is in terms of both cos in terms only of cos . The third is in terms only of sin and sin . The second is

Example 4. Show: sin 2 Solution. We will now construct tan also multiply by cos . sin 2 = 2 sin cos Formulas

by dividing by cos . But to preserve the equality, we must

Lesson 5 of Algebra

Reciprocal identities

Pythagorean identities That is what we wanted to prove.

Example 5. Show: sin x

Solution.

sin x

-- according to the previous identity with Half-angle formulas

x 2

The following half-angle formulas are inversions of the double-angle formulas, because of 2 .

is half

The plus or minus sign will depend on the quadrant. Under the radical, the cosine has the + sign; the sine, the sign. Proof

Example 6. Evaluate cos . 8 Solution. Since 8 is half of 4 , then according to the half angle formula:

Topic 4

Lesson 23 of Algebra

Lesson 27 of Algebra Products as sums a) b) c) d) Proof sin cos = [sin ( = [sin ( + ) + sin ( + ) sin ( )] )]

cos sin cos cos sin sin

= [cos ( + ) + cos ( )] = [cos ( + ) cos ( )]

Sums as products e) f) g) h) sin A + sin B = 2 sin (A + B) cos (A B) sin A sin B = 2 sin (A B) cos (A + B) cos A + cos B = 2 cos (A + B) cos (A B) cos A cos B = 2 sin (A + B) sin (A B)