Trigonometric Formula Sheet

Definition of the Trig Functions

Right Triangle Definition Unit Circle Definition
Assume that: Assume θ can be any angle.
0 < θ < π2 or 0◦ < θ < 90◦
y

(x, y)

hypotenuse 1
y
opposite θ
x
x
θ
adjacent

opp hyp
sin θ = csc θ = y 1
hyp opp sin θ = csc θ =
1 y
adj hyp x 1
cos θ = sec θ = cos θ = sec θ =
hyp adj 1 x
opp adj y x
tan θ = cot θ = tan θ = cot θ =
adj opp x y

Domains of the Trig Functions

sin θ, ∀ θ ∈ (−∞, ∞) csc θ, ∀ θ 6= nπ, where n ∈ Z
 1
cos θ, ∀ θ ∈ (−∞, ∞) sec θ, ∀ θ 6= n + π, where n ∈ Z
2
 1
tan θ, ∀ θ 6= n + π, where n ∈ Z cot θ, ∀ θ 6= nπ, where n ∈ Z
2

Ranges of the Trig Functions

−1 ≤ sin θ ≤ 1 csc θ ≥ 1 and csc θ ≤ −1
−1 ≤ cos θ ≤ 1 sec θ ≥ 1 and sec θ ≤ −1
−∞ ≤ tan θ ≤ ∞ −∞ ≤ cot θ ≤ ∞

Periods of the Trig Functions

The period of a function is the number, T, such that f (θ +T ) = f (θ ) .
So, if ω is a fixed number and θ is any angle we have the following periods.
2π 2π
sin(ωθ) ⇒ T = csc(ωθ) ⇒ T =
ω ω
2π 2π
cos(ωθ) ⇒ T = sec(ωθ) ⇒ T =
ω ω
π π
tan(ωθ) ⇒ T = cot(ωθ) ⇒ T =
ω ω

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 Identities and Formulas
Tangent and Cotangent Identities Half Angle Formulas
r
sin θ cos θ 1 − cos(2θ)
tan θ = cot θ = sin θ = ±
cos θ sin θ 2
r
Reciprocal Identities 1 + cos(2θ)
cos θ = ±
1 1 2
sin θ = csc θ = s
csc θ sin θ 1 − cos(2θ)
1 1 tan θ = ±
cos θ = sec θ = 1 + cos(2θ)
sec θ cos θ
Sum and Difference Formulas
1 1
tan θ = cot θ =
cot θ tan θ sin(α ± β) = sin α cos β ± cos α sin β

Pythagorean Identities cos(α ± β) = cos α cos β ∓ sin α sin β

2 2
sin θ + cos θ = 1
tan α ± tan β
tan2 θ + 1 = sec2 θ tan(α ± β) =
1 ∓ tan α tan β
1 + cot2 θ = csc2 θ
Product to Sum Formulas
Even and Odd Formulas
1
sin α sin β = [cos(α − β) − cos(α + β)]
sin(−θ) = − sin θ csc(−θ) = − csc θ 2
cos(−θ) = cos θ sec(−θ) = sec θ 1
cos α cos β = [cos(α − β) + cos(α + β)]
tan(−θ) = − tan θ cot(−θ) = − cot θ 2
1
Periodic Formulas sin α cos β = [sin(α + β) + sin(α − β)]
2
If n is an integer 1
cos α sin β = [sin(α + β) − sin(α − β)]
sin(θ + 2πn) = sin θ csc(θ + 2πn) = csc θ 2
cos(θ + 2πn) = cos θ sec(θ + 2πn) = sec θ Sum to Product Formulas
tan(θ + πn) = tan θ cot(θ + πn) = cot θ    
α+β α−β
Double Angle Formulas sin α + sin β = 2 sin cos
2 2
   
α+β α−β
sin(2θ) = 2 sin θ cos θ sin α − sin β = 2 cos sin
2 2
   
cos(2θ) = cos2 θ − sin2 θ α+β α−β
cos α + cos β = 2 cos cos
= 2 cos2 θ − 1 2 2
   
= 1 − 2 sin2 θ α+β α−β
cos α − cos β = −2 sin sin
2 2
2 tan θ
tan(2θ) = Cofunction Formulas
1 − tan2 θ
π  π 
Degrees to Radians Formulas sin − θ = cos θ cos − θ = sin θ
If x is an angle in degrees and t is an angle in 2 2
π  π 
radians then: csc − θ = sec θ sec − θ = csc θ
2 2
π t πx 180◦ t π  π 
= ⇒ t = and x = tan − θ = cot θ cot − θ = tan θ
180◦ x 180◦ π 2 2

2
 Unit Circle
(0, 1)

√
3 90◦ , π2 √
3
(− 12 , 2
) ( 12 , 2
)
√ √ √ √
2 2 2 2
(− 2
, 2
) ( 2
, 2
)
120◦ , 2π
3
60◦ , π3
√ √
(− 3 1
, ) 135◦ , 3π
4
45◦ , π4 ( 3 1
, )
2 2 2 2

150◦ , 5π
6
30◦ , π6

180◦ , π
(−1, 0) (1, 0)
0◦ , 2π

210◦ , 7π
6
330◦ , 11π
6
√ √
3 3
(− 2
, − 12 ) 225◦ , 5π 315◦ , 7π ( 2
, − 21 )
4 4

√ √
240◦ , 4π
3
300◦ , 5π
3 √ √
2
(− 2
, − 22 ) ( 2
2
, − 2
2
)
√ √
3 3
(− 12 , − 2
) ( 12 , − 2
)
270◦ , 3π
2

(0, −1)

F or any ordered pair on the unit circle (x, y) : cos θ = x and sin θ = y

Example
√
cos ( 7π
6) = − 23 sin ( 7π 1
6 ) = −2

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 Inverse Trig Functions
Definition Inverse Properties
These properties hold for x in the domain and θ in
θ = sin−1 (x) is equivalent to x = sin θ the range

θ = cos−1 (x) is equivalent to x = cos θ

sin(sin−1 (x)) = x sin−1 (sin(θ)) = θ
θ = tan−1 (x) is equivalent to x = tan θ
cos(cos−1 (x)) = x cos−1 (cos(θ)) = θ

Domain and Range tan(tan−1 (x)) = x tan−1 (tan(θ)) = θ

Function Domain Range

Other Notations
π π
θ = sin−1 (x) −1 ≤ x ≤ 1 − ≤θ≤
2 2
sin−1 (x) = arcsin(x)
−1
θ = cos (x) −1 ≤ x ≤ 1 0≤θ≤π
cos−1 (x) = arccos(x)
−1 π π
θ = tan (x) −∞ ≤ x ≤ ∞ − <θ<
2 2
tan−1 (x) = arctan(x)

Law of Sines, Cosines, and Tangents

a c

γ α
b

Law of Sines Law of Tangents

sin α sin β sin γ a−b tan 12 (α − β)
= = =
a b c a+b tan 12 (α + β)
Law of Cosines
b−c tan 12 (β − γ)
=
a2 = b2 + c2 − 2bc cos α b+c tan 12 (β + γ)

b2 = a2 + c2 − 2ac cos β a−c tan 12 (α − γ)

=
a+c tan 21 (α + γ)
c2 = a2 + b2 − 2ab cos γ

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 Complex Numbers
√
i= −1 i2 = −1 i3 = −i i4 = 1
√ √
−a = i a, a ≥ 0 (a + bi)(a − bi) = a2 + b2
√
(a + bi) + (c + di) = a + c + (b + d)i |a + bi| = a2 + b2 Complex Modulus

(a + bi) − (c + di) = a − c + (b − d)i (a + bi) = a − bi Complex Conjugate

(a + bi)(c + di) = ac − bd + (ad + bc)i (a + bi)(a + bi) = |a + bi|2

DeMoivre’s Theorem

Let z = r(cos θ + i sin θ), and let n be a positive integer.

Then:
z n = rn (cos nθ + i sin nθ).

Example: Let z = 1 − i, find z 6 .

Solution: First write z in polar form.

p √
r= (1)2 + (−1)2 = 2
 
−1 −1 π
θ = arg(z) = tan =−
1 4
√   π  π 
Polar Form: z = 2 cos − + i sin −
4 4
Applying DeMoivre’s Theorem gives :
√ 6   π  π 
6
z = 2 cos 6 · − + i sin 6 · −
4 4
    
3π 3π
= 23 cos − + i sin −
2 2
= 8(0 + i(1))

= 8i

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 Finding the nth roots of a number using DeMoivre’s Theorem

Example: Find all the complex fourth roots of 4. That is, find all the complex solutions of
x4 = 4.

We are asked to find all complex fourth roots of 4.

These are all the solutions (including the complex values) of the equation x4 = 4.

For any positive integer n , a nonzero complex number z has exactly n distinct nth roots.
More specifically, if z is written in the trigonometric form r(cos θ + i sin θ), the nth roots of
z are given by the following formula.
    
1 θ 360◦ k θ 360◦ k
(∗) r cos
n + + i sin + , f or k = 0, 1, 2, ..., n − 1.
n n n n

Remember from the previous example we need to write 4 in trigonometric

  form by using:
p b
r = (a)2 + (b)2 and θ = arg(z) = tan−1 .
a
So we have the complex number a + ib = 4 + i0.

Therefore a = 4 and b = 0
p
So r = (4)2 + (0)2= 
4 and
0
θ = arg(z) = tan−1 =0
4
Finally our trigonometric form is 4 = 4(cos 0◦ + i sin 0◦ )

Using the formula (∗) above with n = 4, we can find the fourth roots of 4(cos 0◦ + i sin 0◦ )
  ◦   ◦ 
1 0 360◦ ∗ 0 0 360◦ ∗ 0 √ √
• For k = 0, 4 4 cos + + i sin + = 2 (cos(0◦ ) + i sin(0◦ )) = 2
4 4 4 4
  ◦   ◦ 
1 0 ◦
360 ∗ 1 0 ◦
360 ∗ 1 √ √
• For k = 1, 4 cos
4 + + i sin + = 2 (cos(90◦ ) + i sin(90◦ )) = 2i
4 4 4 4
  ◦   ◦ 
1 0 ◦
360 ∗ 2 0 360◦ ∗ 2 √ √
• For k = 2, 4 4 cos + + i sin + = 2 (cos(180◦ ) + i sin(180◦ )) = − 2
4 4 4 4
  ◦   ◦ 
1 0 ◦
360 ∗ 3 0 360◦ ∗ 3 √ √
• For k = 3, 4 4 cos + + i sin + = 2 (cos(270◦ ) + i sin(270◦ )) = − 2i
4 4 4 4

Thus all of the complex roots of x4 = 4 are:

√ √ √ √
2, 2i, − 2, − 2i .

6
Formulas for the Conic Sections

Circle

StandardF orm : (x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2

W here (h, k) = center and r = radius

Ellipse

Standard F orm f or Horizontal M ajor Axis :

(x − h)2 (y − k)2
+ =1
a2 b2

Standard F orm f or V ertical M ajor Axis :

(x − h)2 (y − k)2
+ =1
b2 a2
Where (h, k)= center

2a=length of major axis

2b=length of minor axis

(0 < b < a)

Foci can be found by using c2 = a2 − b2

Where c= foci length

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 More Conic Sections

Hyperbola

Standard F orm f or Horizontal T ransverse Axis :

(x − h)2 (y − k)2
− =1
a2 b2

Standard F orm f or V ertical T ransverse Axis :

(y − k)2 (x − h)2
− =1
a2 b2

Where (h, k)= center

a=distance between center and either vertex

Foci can be found by using b2 = c2 − a2

Where c is the distance between

center and either focus. (b > 0)

Parabola

Vertical axis: y = a(x − h)2 + k

Horizontal axis: x = a(y − k)2 + h

Where (h, k)= vertex

a=scaling factor

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 f (x)

f (x) = sin(x)

1√
3
2
√
2
2

1
2

x
0 π π π 2π 3π 5π 7π 5π 4π 5π 7π 11π
6 4 3
π
3 4 6
π 6 4 3
3π
3 4 6 2π
2 2

− 12
√
2
− 2
√
− 23
-1

 √
5π  2
Example : sin =−
4 2

f (x)

f (x) = cos(x)

1√
3
2
√
2
2

1
2

x
0 π π π 2π 3π 5π 7π 5π 4π 5π 7π 11π
6 4 3
π
3 4 6
π 6 4 3
3π
3 4 6 2π
2 2

− 12
√
2
− 2
√
− 23
-1

 √
7π  3
Example : cos =−
6 2

9
 − π2 f (x) π
2

f (x) = tan x

√
3

1
√
3
3

x
− π3 − π4 − π6 0 π π π
−π − 5π 3π 2π
6 − 4 − 3 6 4 3
2π
3
3π
4
5π
6
π
√
3
− 3

−1

√
− 3

10