Basic Trigonometric Identities 74

24 Basic Trigonometric Identities

Theorem 24.1 (Quotient Identities). Let θ be an angle. Then

sin θ cos θ
• tan θ = • cot θ =
cos θ sin θ

Theorem 24.2 (Reciprocal Identities). Let θ be an angle. Then

1
• csc θ =
sin θ
1
• sec θ =
cos θ
1
• cot θ =
tan θ

The above identities follow from the definitions of the trigonometric functions.

Theorem 24.3 (Pythagorean Identities). Let θ be an angle. Then Take note: sin2 θ means
(sin θ)2 , and similar for the
• sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1
other trigonometric functions.
• tan2 θ + 1 = sec2 θ

• 1 + cot2 θ = csc2 θ

The Pythagorean identies follow from the fact that y = sin θ and x = cos θ. Substitut-
ing these values into the equation of the unit circle x2 + y 2 = 1 gives the first identity. The
other two equations follow by dividing the first equation by either sin2 θ or cos2 θ.

24.1 Worked Examples

Example 24.1. Find the exact values of the remaining five trigonometric function
values of θ given that sec θ = 54 and θ is in Quadrant IV.

Solution We can use the reciprocal identity sec θ = cos θ :

1

1 5 4
sec θ = = =⇒ cos θ = .
cos θ 4 5

We can then use the Pythagorean identity sin2 θ+cos2 θ = 1 to find sin θ. We consider
the given quadrant in determining the sign of sin θ.
 2
4 9 3
sin θ +
2
= 1 =⇒ sin2 θ = =⇒ sin θ = ± .
5 25 5

Since θ is in Quadrant IV, we take sin θ = − 53 . We now use the quotient identities
to find cot θ and tan θ and the reciprocal identity to find csc θ. Hence, we have the
following values:
4
• cos θ =
5
• sin θ = − 53

• tan θ = − 43
Basic Trigonometric Identities Worked Examples 75

• cot θ = − 34

• csc θ = − 53

Example 24.2. Find the exact values of the remaining five trigonometric function
values of θ given that cot θ = 43 and cos θ < 0.

sin θ = 3 , sin θ must also be negative for

Solution Because cos θ < 0 and cot θ = cos θ 4

cot θ to be positive.
Now, from the Pythagorean identity 1 + cot2 θ = csc2 θ, we have

16 5
1+ = csc2 θ =⇒ csc θ = ± .
9 3

But csc θ = sin1 θ and we know that sin θ < 0. Hence, csc θ must be equal to − 35 .
Thus, sin θ = csc1 θ = − 35 . Going back to the first quotient identity mentioned in the
solution, we have

cos θ 4 cos θ 4 4
= =⇒ = =⇒ cos θ = − ,
sin θ 3 − 35 3 5

which means that sec θ = 1

cos θ = − 54 . Lastly, tan θ = 1
tan θ = 34 .