Proving Trigonometric Identities

Lesson 9b
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 1 1
cosec  sec  cot  
sin  cos  tan 

QUOTIENT IDENTITIES
sin  cos 
tan   cot  
cos sin 

PYTHAGOREAN IDENTITIES
sin   cos   1
2 2
tan   1  sec 
2 2

1  cot 2   cosec 2

EVEN-ODD IDENTITIES
sin      sin  cos    cos  tan      tan 
cosec    cosec sec    sec  cot      cot 
Establish the
following identity:
Let's sub in here using reciprocal identity
sin  csc sin  csc  cos   sin 
2 2

 cos   sin 
2 2
 1 
sin     cos   sin 
2 2

We are done! We've  sin  

shown the LHS equals 1  cos 2   sin 2 
the RHS
sin   sin 
2 2

We often use the Pythagorean Identities solved for either sin 2 or cos2.
sin2 + cos2 = 1 solved for sin2 is sin2 = 1 - cos2 which is our left-
hand 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 

We worked on LHS and cosec  cot  

sin 
then RHS but never
moved things across
1  cos 
the = sign 1 cos  sin 
 
sin  sin  1  cos  FOIL denominator
1  cos   sin sin  1  cos  
combine fractions   
sin  cos  1  cos  
11cos
1  cos  sin  1  cos  
Another trick if the
denominator is two terms

with one term a 1 and the
other a sine or cosine,
sin  1  cos  2

multiply top and bottom of 1  cos  sin  1  cos  

the fraction by the conjugate 
and then you'll be able to sin  sin 2

use the Pythagorean Identity 1  cos  1  cos 

on the bottom 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
L9 -- Trigo. Formulas and Identities 7