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Trigonometric Functions

The document reviews fundamental trigonometric identities including: 1) Definitions of reciprocal trig functions like csc, sec, and cot. 2) Derivations of trig identities from right triangle definitions of sin and cos, including sin^2 + cos^2 = 1. 3) Additional identities derived from this such as 1 + tan^2 = sec^2 and 1 + cot^2 = csc^2. Rather than memorization, the document suggests understanding how the identities are derived.

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33 views

Trigonometric Functions

The document reviews fundamental trigonometric identities including: 1) Definitions of reciprocal trig functions like csc, sec, and cot. 2) Derivations of trig identities from right triangle definitions of sin and cos, including sin^2 + cos^2 = 1. 3) Additional identities derived from this such as 1 + tan^2 = sec^2 and 1 + cot^2 = csc^2. Rather than memorization, the document suggests understanding how the identities are derived.

Uploaded by

Rius Gatoc
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

Fundamental Trigonometric Identities

by M. Bourne

Before we start to prove trigonometric identities, we see where the basic identities come from.

Recall the definitions of the reciprocal trigonometric functions, csc θ, sec θ and cot θ from the trigonometric
functions chapter:

Later, on this page:

After we revise the fundamental identities, we learn about:


Proving trigonometric identities

Now, consider the following diagram where the point (x, y) defines an angle θ at the origin, and the distance from
the origin to the point is r units:

From the diagram, we can see that the ratios sin θ and cos θ are defined as:

and

Now, we use these results to find an important definition for tan θ:


Now, also so we can conclude that:

Also, for the values in the diagram, we can use Pythagoras' Theorem and obtain:

y 2 + x 2 = r2

Dividing through by r2 gives us:

so we obtain the important result:

sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1

We now proceed to derive two other related formulas that can be used when proving trigonometric identities.

It is suggested that you remember how to find the identities, rather than try to memorise each one.

Dividing sin2θ + cos2 θ = 1 through by cos2θ gives us:

so

tan2 θ + 1 = sec2 θ

Dividing sin2θ + cos2 θ = 1 through by sin2θ gives us:

so

1 + cot2 θ = csc2 θ

Trigonometric Identities Summary


Fundamental Identities
sin x = 1 / csc x
cos x = 1 / sec x
tan x = 1 / cot x
tan x = sin x / cos x
cot x = cos x / sin x
sin2x + cos2x = 1
1 + tan2x = sec2x
1 + cot2x = csc2x
These will be useful in solving your teachers trigonometric proofs.
 
1. Switch everything if possible in sin and cos it will allow you two simplify the equation down
to two varibles therefore making it much simpler.
 

Reciprocal identities and quotient identities

, , ,  and .

Pythagorean identities:

, , and . 

Co-function identities:

,  and .

Sum and difference identities


,

and ; ,

and

 Double angle identities:

, and .

Power reducing and half angle formulas:

, and

,  and
Sum-to-product formulas:

Product-to sum formulas:

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