TRIGONOMETRY

Proving Trigonometric Identities

REVIEW
u u
u u
u u
2 2
2 2
2 2
csc 1 cot
sec tan 1
1 cos sin
= +
= +
= +
Quotient Identities
Reciprocal Identities Pythagorean Identities
( )( ) x x x x x x
2
sin cos tan cos cot sin + = +
Lets start by working on
the left side of the
equation.
( )( ) x x x x x x
2
sin cos tan cos cot sin + = +
( ) =
(

|
.
|

\
|
+
x
x
x
x
x
x
cos
sin
cos
sin
cos
sin
Rewrite the terms inside
the second parenthesis
by using the quotient
identities
( )( ) x x x x x x
2
sin cos tan cos cot sin + = +
( ) =
(

|
.
|

\
|
+
x
x
x
x
x
x
cos
sin
cos
sin
cos
sin
Simplify
( )( ) x x x x x x
2
sin cos tan cos cot sin + = +
( ) =
(

|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
x
x x
x
x
x
sin
sin
1
sin
sin
cos
sin
To add the fractions
inside the
parenthesis, you must
multiply by one to get
common
denominators
( )( ) x x x x x x
2
sin cos tan cos cot sin + = +
( ) =
(

+
x
x
x
x
x
sin
sin
sin
cos
sin
2
Now that you have
the common
denominators, add
the numerators
( )( ) x x x x x x
2
sin cos tan cos cot sin + = +
( ) =
(

+
x
x x
x
sin
sin cos
sin
2
Simplify
( )( ) x x x x x x
2
sin cos tan cos cot sin + = +
x x x x
2 2
sin cos sin cos + = +
Since the left side of the equation is
the same as the right side, youve
successfully proven the identity!
On to the
next problem.
x x x x
2 2 4 4
sin cos sin cos =
Lets start by working on
the left side of the
equation.
x x x x
2 2 4 4
sin cos sin cos =
( )( ) = + x x x x
2 2 2 2
sin cos sin cos
Well factor the terms
using the difference of
two perfect squares
technique
x x x x
2 2 4 4
sin cos sin cos =
( )( ) = 1 sin cos
2 2
x x
Using the Pythagorean
Identities the second set
of parenthesis can be
simplified
x x x x
2 2 4 4
sin cos sin cos =
x x x x
2 2 2 2
sin cos sin cos =
Since the left side of the equation is
the same as the right side, youve
successfully proven the identity!
On to the
next problem.
x
x
x x
sin 1
cos
sec tan

= +
Lets start by working on
the right side of the
equation.
x
x
x x
sin 1
cos
sec tan

= +
|
.
|

\
|
+
+

=
x
x
x
x
sin 1
sin 1
sin 1
cos
Multiply by 1 in the form
of the conjugate of the
denominator
x
x
x x
sin 1
cos
sec tan

= +
x
x x
2
sin 1
) sin 1 ( cos

+
=
Now, lets distribute in
the numerator.
x
x
x x
sin 1
cos
sec tan

= +
x
x x x
2
cos
sin cos cos +
=
and simplify the
denominator
x
x
x x
sin 1
cos
sec tan

= +
x
x x
x
x
2 2
cos
sin cos
cos
cos
+ =
Split the fraction and
simplify
x
x
x x
sin 1
cos
sec tan

= +
x
x
x cos
sin
cos
1
+ =
Use the Quotient and
Reciprocal Identities to
rewrite the fractions
x
x
x x
sin 1
cos
sec tan

= +
x x tan sec + =
And then by using the
commutative property of
addition
x
x
x x
sin 1
cos
sec tan

= +
x x x x sec tan sec tan + = +
youve successfully
proven the identity!
One more.
x
x x
2
csc 2
cos 1
1
cos 1
1
=
+
+

Lets work on the left

side of the equation
x
x x
2
csc 2
cos 1
1
cos 1
1
=
+
+

=
|
.
|

\
|

+
+

|
.
|

\
|
+
+
x
x
x x x
x
cos 1
cos 1
cos 1
1
cos 1
1
cos 1
cos 1
Multiply each fraction by
one to get the LCD
x
x x
2
csc 2
cos 1
1
cos 1
1
=
+
+

+
x
x
x
x
2 2
cos 1
cos 1
cos 1
cos 1
Now that the fractions
have a common
denominator, you can
add the numerators
x
x x
2
csc 2
cos 1
1
cos 1
1
=
+
+

+ +
x
x x
2
cos 1
cos 1 cos 1
Simplify the numerator
x
x x
2
csc 2
cos 1
1
cos 1
1
=
+
+

=
x
2
cos 1
2
Use the Pythagorean
Identity to rewrite the
denominator
x
x x
2
csc 2
cos 1
1
cos 1
1
=
+
+

=
x
2
sin
1
2
Multiply the fraction by
the constant
x
x x
2
csc 2
cos 1
1
cos 1
1
=
+
+

x x
2 2
csc 2 csc 2 =
Use the Reciprocal Identity to
rewrite the fraction to equal
the expression on the right
side of the equation