TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITIES

Remember an identity is an equation

that is true for all defined values of a
variable.
We are going to use the identities that we have already
established to "prove" or establish other identities. Let's
summarize the basic identities we have.

RECIPROCAL IDENTITIES
1
sec
cos

1
cosec
sin

1
cot
tan

QUOTIENT IDENTITIES

sin
tan
cos

cot

cos
sin

PYTHAGOREAN IDENTITIES
2
2
2
2
tan

sec

sin cos 1

1 cot 2 cosec 2
EVEN-ODD IDENTITIES
sin sin
cos cos
tan tan
cosec cosec sec sec
cot cot

Establish the following identity: sin

Let's sub in here using reciprocal identity

cosec cos sin

2

sin cosec cos sin

1
2
2
sin
cos sin
sin
2

We are done!
We've shown the
LHS equals the
RHS

1 cos sin
2
2
sin sin
2

We often use the Pythagorean Identities solved for either sin2 or cos2.
sin2 + cos2 = 1 solved for sin2 is sin2 = 1 - cos2 which is our lefthand side so we can substitute.

In establishing an identity you should NOT move things

from one side of the equal sign to the other. Instead
substitute using identities you know and simplifying on
one side or the other side or both until both sides match.

sin

Establish the following identity: cosec cot

Let's sub in here using reciprocal identity and quotient identity 1 cos
sin
We worked on
cosec cot
1 cos
LHS and then
RHS but never
1
cos
sin

moved things
sin sin 1 cos FOIL denominator
across the = sign
11 cos
sin 1 cos
cos sin

combine fractions

sin
sin
cos 1 cos
11cos
Another trick if the
1 cos sin 1 cos
denominator is two terms

2
with one term a 1 and the
sin
1 cos
other a sine or cosine,
multiply top and bottom of
1 cos sin 1 cos

the fraction by the conjugate

2
sin

sin

and then you'll be able to

use the Pythagorean Identity
on the bottom

1 cos 1 cos

sin
sin

Hints for Establishing Identities

Get common denominators

If you have squared functions look for Pythagorean
Identities
Work on the more complex side first
If you have a denominator of 1 + trig function try
multiplying top & bottom by conjugate and use
Pythagorean Identity
When all else fails write everything in terms of sines
and cosines using reciprocal and quotient identities
Have fun with these---it's like a puzzle, can you use
identities and algebra to get them to match!

MathXTC

Acknowledgement
I wish to thank Shawna Haider from Salt Lake Community College, Utah
USA for her hard work in creating this PowerPoint.
www.slcc.edu
Shawna has kindly given permission for this resource to be downloaded
from www.mathxtc.com and for it to be modified to suit the Western
Australian Mathematics Curriculum.

Stephen Corcoran
Head of Mathematics
St Stephens School Carramar
www.ststephens.wa.edu.au