Math 111: Derivation of the Sum Trigonometric Identities

Three particular identities are very important to the study of trigonometry. They are typically know as
the sum trigonometric identities. This paper present a geometric proof of the validity of the first two of
these identities, along with an algebraic proof of the last one (3).
Theorem 1. Suppose that and are any two angles. Further suppose that tan and tan , are
defined for and . It follows that
sin( + ) = sin cos + sin cos ,

(1)

cos( + ) = cos cos sin sin , and

(2)

tan( + ) =

tan + tan
.
1 tan tan

(3)

Proof. First, draw two triangles on top of each other, with as the angle of the first triangle, and as
the angle of the second triangle. Label the first triangle as ABC and the second triangle as ABD. The
hypotenuse of the first triangle (ABC) is the adjacent leg of the second triangle (ABD). Next, form a
new right triangle by dropping an altitude from D down to a point E which lies to the left of B, such
that the segment BE is parallel to AC.
D
A
A

Since, BE is parallel to AC, then ABE is

the same as BAC. Further, since
ABE + EBD = 2 , then EBD = 2 .
Finally, since EBD + EDB = 2 , then
EDB = . From 4ABD,
BD
sin =
AD

AB
cos =
AD

A
A
A

(4)

From 4ABC,
sin =

BC
AB

= BC = AB sin

cos =

AC
AB

AC = AB cos

(5)
A



















BE
BD

cos =

= BE = BD sin

Finally, from 4BDE,

sin =

E



A
AB


DE
BD

DE = BD cos .

(6)

The sine of + can be found from 4ADF and is

sin( + ) =

DF
BC + DE
=
.
AD
AD

(7)

Derivation of the Sum Trigonometric Identities, page 2

Using (5), (6), and (4) simplifies (7) to

sin( + ) =

BC + DE
AD
AB sin + BD cos
AD

= sin

BD
AB
+
cos
AD
AD

sin( + ) = sin cos + sin cos

(8)

Similarly, using (5), (6), and (4) leads to the solution for cos( + )
cos( + ) =

AF
AC CF
AC BE
=
=
AD
AD
AD
AB cos + BD sin
AD

= cos

AB
BD
+ sin
AD
AD

cos( + ) = cos cos sin sin

(9)

Finally, to prove (3), divide (8) by (9), and then divide both the top and bottom of the result by
cos cos as follows:

tan( + ) =

sin cos + sin cos

sin( + )
=
cos( + )
cos cos sin sin

sin cos
sin cos
+
cos cos
cos cos
=
cos cos
sin sin

cos cos
cos cos
tan( + ) =

tan + tan
1 tan tan

(10)