Book 3B Chapter 9

(page 9.29 - 9.31)

Proofs of Simple
Trigonometric Identities
 We have learnt the following
five trigonometric identities:

sin
(1)  tan (3) sin θ = cos (90  θ)
cos 
(2) sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1 (4) cos θ = sin (90  θ)
1
(5) tan 
tan(90   )
 We can use them to prove
other trigonometric identities.

sin
(1)  tan (3) sin θ = cos (90  θ)
cos 
(2) sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1 (4) cos θ = sin (90  θ)
1
(5) tan 
tan(90   )
Example 1
sin(90   )
Prove that tan(90   )  sin .

To prove an identity, we have to

simplify the L.H.S. and the R.H.S.
to the same expression.
Example 1
sin(90   )
Prove that tan(90   )  sin .

We usually start to simplify the side

with a more complicated
expression.
Example 1
sin(90   )
Prove that tan(90   )  sin .

Solution
sin(90   )
L.H.S. 
tan(90   )
1
 sin(90   ) 
tan(90   )
 cos   tan  Identities (4) & (5)
sin
 cos    Identity (1)
cos 
 sin
R.H.S.  sin
∵ L.H.S.  R.H.S.
sin(90   )
∴  sin
tan(90   )
Example 2

Prove that (1  cos )(1  cos )  cos (90   ) .

2

Solution
L.H.S.  (1  cos  )(1  cos  )
 1 cos2   (a + b)(a – b)  a2 – b2

 sin2 
R.H.S.  cos2 (90   )
 [cos(90  θ )]2
 (sinθ )2  Identity (3)
 sin2 θ
∵ L.H.S.  R.H.S.
∴ (1  cos  )(1  cos  )  cos2 (90   )
Follow-up Questions
tan(90   ) 1
1. Prove that  .
cos  sin
tan(90   )
L.H.S. 
cos 
1 1
  tan (90  θ) =
tan  cos  tan θ
1 sin θ
  tan θ = cos θ
sin
 cos 
cos 
1

sin
1
R.H.S. 
sin
∵ L.H.S.  R.H.S.
tan(90   ) 1
∴ 
cos  sin
Follow-up Questions

2. Prove that (sin  1)(sin  1)   sin (90   ) .

2

L.H.S.  (sin  1)(sin  1)

 sin2   1  (a + b)(a – b)  a2 – b2

 (1  sin2  )
  cos2   1  sin2 θ = cos2 θ
R.H.S.   sin2 (90   )
  cos2  sin2 (90  θ) = [sin (90  θ)]2
= (cos θ)2
∵ L.H.S.  R.H.S. = cos2 θ
∴ (sin  1)(sin  1)   sin2 (90   )