TRIGONOMETRY

The general angle

It is measured either in degrees or radian.
Degrees

Radian.
Consider the circle below with centre O and radius r .
The angle  in radians is given by the ratio
s
c  Arc length
radius 
r
In one complete revolution s  2r so that

c  2r
r  2 c

Since the angle subtended at the centre by the circumference is equal to 360 0 ,

2 c  360 0

  c  180 0

When an angle is quoted in terms of  it is normal to omit the radian symbol. Thus

1800   not  . c

Example.

1. Express 120 0 in radians.

Solution:
If 180 0  
120 
120 0   
180 6
 5
2. Express  in degrees.
3
Solution:
If   180 0
5 5
   180 0  300 0
3 3

3. Find the length of the arc of a circle of radius R  2 metres subtended by a central angle
of 0.25 radians.
Solution:
s
 c  Arcradius
length
 or S  R
R
S  2  0.25  0.5 metres

Trigonometric ratios
Consider the right angled triangle below.

adjacent opposite opposite

cos  , sin  , tan  
hypotenuse hypotenuse adjacent

Example
5
1. Given that sin   ,  is acute, determine cos and tan  without using tables or
6
calculators.
Solution:
 k 2  62  52
 36  25
 11
k  11

11
cos 
6
5
tan  
11
Other trigonometric ratios
1 1 1 cos
sec  , cos ec  , cot   
cos sin  tan  sin 
Exercise
3
Given that sin   ,  is acute, obtain the following without using tables and
4
calculators.
(i) cos
(ii) tan 
(iii) sec 
 (iv) cot 

Trigonometric ratios of 30 0 , 45 0 , 60 0 .
Consider the equilateral triangle below.

3 1
cos 30 0  , cos 60 0 
2 2

1 3
sin 30 0  , sin 60 0 
2 2

1 3
tan 30 0  , tan 60 0   3
3 1

Similarly, consider the right angled triangle below.

 1
cos 450 
2
1
sin 45 0 
2

tan 45 0  1

Example

1  tan 60 0
Obtain without using tables and calculators the value of .
1  tan 60 0
Solution:

1  tan 60 0 1  3

1  tan 60 0 1  3


1  3 1  3 
1  3 1  3 
 42 3

2

 2  3
Trigonometric rations of other angles.
1st quadrant

cos 
x
 ve
r
y
sin   (ve)
r
y
tan   (ve)
x
2nd quadrant

Associated acute angle 180 0   0

 cos 
x
 ve
r
y
sin   (ve)
r
y
tan   (ve)
x
3rd quadrant

Associated acute angle  0  180 0

cos 
x
 ve
r
 y
sin   (ve)
r
y
tan   (ve)
x
4th quadrant

Associated acute angle 360 0  

cos 
x
 ve
r
y
sin   (ve)
r
y
tan   (ve)
x
In summary
Example
Evaluate the following without using tables or calculators:

(i) sin150 0
(ii) cos 210 0
(iii) tan 330 0
(iv) sin 210 0

Solution:
 (i)  
sin150 0  sin 180 0  150 0  sin 30 0 
1
2

cos 210 0   cos210 0  180 0    cos 30 0  

3
(ii)
2
(iii)  
tan 3300   tan 3600  3300   tan 300  
1
3
(iv)  
sin 210 0   sin 210 0  180 0   sin 30 0  
1
2
NOTE:

1. sin     sin
2. cos    cos
3. tan      tan 

Example

 
sin  3000   sin 3000

 
   sin 3600  3000 
 sin 60 0

 3
2
Graphs of trigonometric functions.
These include y  sin x , y  cos x , y  tan x , etc.

The graph of y  sin x .

Consider the following table of values:

x 00 90 0 180 0 270 0 360 0
y  sin x 0 1 0 1 0
The graph of y  sin x repeats itself at intervals of 2 , it’s called a periodic function , and the
interval is called period.

The greatest value of sin x  1 is called the amplitude of the function y  sin x .

Exercise
Graph each function.
(i) y  5 sin 4 x
(ii) y  4 cos 6 x
(iii) y  4 sin 1 x
2
(iv) y  cosx  60

For the values of x from 0 0 to 360 0 . State the period and amplitude of each.
Inverse trigonometric functions.

The inverse sin e function is denoted by arcsin or sin 1 .

For f : x  sin x , the input is angle and the output is a number.
So, for the inverse function f 1 : x  arcsin x , the input is a number and the output is an angle.

Thus if
 
f : x  sin x ,  x
2 2

Then f  x : x  arcsin x, 1  x  1

e.g.
Trigonometric identities
Consider the following diagram

By Pythagoras theorem,

x2  y2  r 2

x y
But cos    x  r cos and sin    y  r sin 
r r
Thus,

r cos 2  r sin  2  r2

r 2 cos 2   r 2 sin 2   r 2

Dividing both sides by r 2 gives,

cos 2   sin 2   1 .........(1)

Dividing 1 by cos 2  gives

 sin 2  1
1 
cos  cos 2 
2

1  tan 2   sec2  ..........(2)

Dividing 1 by sin 2  gives

cos 2  1
1 
sin 
2
sin 2 

 cot 2   1  cos ec 2 . .........(3)

sin A  B  , cos A  B  , tan  A  B 

Consider the following diagrams:

Tilt at angle B
To find the height of R from P , drop a perpendicular line from R so that the required height is
RU .
Consider RPU ,

sin A  B  
RU
 RU ............(i )
1
But RU  RT  TU  RT  QV .........(ii)
From RTQ ,

RT
cos B   RT  sin A cos B
sin A
From PQV ,

QV
sin B   QV  cos A sin B
cos A

From i  and ii  we have ,

sin A  B   sin A cos B  cos A sin B ..................(4)

Replacing B by  B we have,

sin A  B   sin A cos B   cos A sin- B

 sin A cos B  cos A sin B .................(5)

NOTE: sin A  B   sin A cos B  cos A sin B

Example
3  12
If cos A  and cos B  , where A and B are both reflex , find the value of
5 5

(i) sin A  B 
(ii) sin A  B 

Solution:
 4
sin A 
5

 12 5
sin B  , cos B 
13 13

(i) sin A  B   sin A cos B  cos A sin B

  4   5   3   12 
      
 5  13   5  13 
20 36
 
65 65
56

65
 (ii) sin A  B   sin A cos B  cos A sin B
  4   5   3   12 
      
 5  13   5  13 
20 36
 
65 65
 16

65

Now, replace B by A in 4  , then

sin A  A  sin A cos A  cos A sin A

 sin 2 A  2 sin A cos A .............(6)

It can be shown that

cos A  B   cos A cos B  sin A sin B ...........(7)

cos A  B   cos A cos B  sin A sin B ...........(8)

NOTE: cos A  B   cos A cos B  sin A sin B

Replacing, B by A in 8 , then

cos A  A  cos A cos A  sin A sin A

cos 2 A  cos 2 A  sin 2 A .............(9)


 cos 2 A  1  cos 2 A 
 cos 2 A  1  cos 2 A

 2 cos 2 A  1

 cos 2 A  2 cos 2 A  1 ..............(10)

Also, cos 2 A  cos 2 A  sin 2 A

 
 1  sin 2 A  sin 2 A

 cos 2 A  1  2 sin 2 A ............(11)

Example

1. Without using tables, find the value of sin 165 0 .

Solution:

sin1650  sin 1200  450 
  sin120 0 cos 45 0  cos120 0 sin 45 0
 
 sin 600 cos 450   cos 1800  1200 sin 450
 sin 60 cos 45  cos 60 sin 45
0 0 0 0

3 1 1 1
   
2 2 2 2
3 1
 
2 2 2 2
3 1

2 2
2. If sin A  3 and cos B  15 , where A is obtuse and B is acute, find the exact value
5 17
sin A  B  .
Solution:
 4
cos A 
5
8
sin B 
17
sin A  B   sin A cos B  cos A sin B
 3  15    4  8 
       
 5  17   5  17 
45 32
 
85 85
13

85

tan  A  B 

sin A  B  sin A cos B  cos A sin B

tan  A  B   
cos A  B  cos A cos B  sin A sin B

Dividing the numerator and denominator by cos Acos B we have ,

sin A cos B cos A sin B


tan  A  B   cos A cos B cos A cos B
cos A cos B sin A sin B

cos A cos B cos A cos B
 sin A sin B

 cos A cos B
sin A cos B
1
cos A cos B
tan A  tan B
 tan  A  B   ...........12
1  tan A tan B

tan  A  B 

sin A  B  sin A cos B  cos A sin B

tan  A  B   
cos A  B  cos A cos B  sin A sin B

Dividing the numerator and denominator by cos Acos B we have ,

sin A cos B cos A sin B


tan  A  B   cos A cos B cos A cos B
cos A cos B sin A sin B

cos A cos B cos A cos B

sin A sin B

 cos A cos B
sin A cos B
1
cos A cos B
tan A  tan B
 tan  A  B   ..........13
1  tan A tan B
tan A  tan B
NOTE:  tan  A  B  
1  tan A tan B

Replacing B by A in 12 we get,

tan A  tan A
tan  A  A 
1  tan A tan A
2 tan A
 tan 2 A  ...........(14)
1  tan 2 A
Example

1. Show that sin 3  3 sin   4 sin 3  .

Solution:
 sin 3  sin  2 
 sin cos 2  cos sin 2
 sin 1  2 sin 2    cos 2 cos sin 
 sin   2 sin 3   2 cos 2  sin 
 
 sin  2 sin 3   2 1  sin 2  sin
 sin   2 sin 3   2 sin   2 sin 3 
 3 sin   4 sin 3 
2. Prove that cos ecA  sin Asec A  cos A 
1
.
tan A  cot A
Solution:
Considering the LHS

cos ecA  sin Asec A  cos A   1  1

 sin A 

 cos A 
 sin A  cos A 
 1  sin 2 A  1  cos A 
   
 sin A  cos A 
 cos 2 A  sin 2 A 
   
 sin A  cos A 
 cos Asin A
On the other hand,
1  sin A cos A 
 1   
tan A  cot A  cos A sin A 
 sin 2 A  cos 2 A 
 1   
 cos A sin A 
cos A sin A

sin 2 A  cos 2 A
 cos Asin A
Hence the proof.
3. Prove that 2 tan A  sin 2 A sec 2 A
Proof:
2 cos A sin A
sin 2 A sec 2 A 
cos 2 A
2 sin A

cos A
 2 tan A

4. Show that cot 2 A 

1
cot A  tan A .
2
 Proof:
1
cot 2 A 
tan 2 A
cos 2 A

sin 2 A
cos 2 A  sin 2 A

2 cos A sin A
cos 2 A sin 2 A
 
2 cos A sin A 2 cos A sin A
cos A sin A
 
2 sin A 2 cos A
1 1
 cot A  tan A
2 2
 cot A  tan A
1
2

5. Show that cos 3  4 cos 3   3 cos .

Proof:
cos 3  cos  2 
 cos cos 3  sin sin 2
 
 cos 2 cos 2   1  sin 2 sin cos 
 2 cos 3   cos  2 sin 2  cos
 
 2 cos3   cos  2 1  cos 2  cos
 2 cos 3   cos  2 cos  2 cos 3 
 4 cos 3   3 cos

1  cos 1
6. Prove that  .
sin  cos ec  cot 
Solution:
1  1 cos 
 1   
cos ec  cot   sin  sin  
 1  cos 
 1  
 sin  
sin 

1  cos
sin 1  cos 

1  cos 1  cos 
sin  1  cos 

1  cos 2 
 sin  1  cos 

sin 2 
1  cos

sin
Exercise
4 12
1. If sin A  and cos B  , where A is obtuse and B is acute, find the values of
5 13
(i) sin A  B 
(ii) tan  A  B 
(iii) tan  A  B 
1
2. If tan A  and tan B  3 4 , where A is obtuse and B is acute, find the values of
7
(i) sin A  B 
(ii) cos2 A  B 
(iii) tan 2 A
3. Prove the following identities.
cos 2 A 2 tan A
(i) 
cos A  sin A 1  tan 2 A
sin A  B 
(ii) tan A  tan B 
cos A cos B
3 tan A  tan 3 A
(iii) tan 3 A 
1  3 tan 2 A
(iv) 1  cos A1  sec A  sin A tan A
cot A cot B  1
(v) cot A  B  
cot B  cot A
(vi) sec  cos ec cot   sec cos ec 2
sin 2   cos 2 
(vii) sec4   cos ec 4 
cos 4  sin 4 
1  sin 
 sec  tan  
2
(viii)
1  sin 
4. If sinx     cosx    , find tan x in terms of  and  .
5. Evaluate without using calculators.
(i) 2 sin 15 0 cos15 0
0
2 tan 22 1
(ii) 2
0
1  tan 22 1
2
2
The t  formulae

It is possible to express both sin 2 x and cos 2 x in terms of tan x ;

 sin 2 x  2 sin x cos x

2 sin x cos 2 x

cos x
 2 tan x cos 2 x

1
 2 tan x 
sec 2 x
2 tan x

1  tan 2 x
2t
 sin 2 x  , where t  tan x
1 t2
2t
sin x  , where t  tan x
1 t2 2

This is usually called the t  formula for sin x .

cos 2 x  cos 2 x  sin 2 x

cos 2 x  sin 2 x
 2
 cos 2 x
cos x


 1  tan 2 x   1
sec 2 x

1  tan 2 x

1  tan 2 x

1 t 2
 tan 2 x  , where t  tan x .
1 t 2

1 t2 x
cos x  ,where t  tan .
1 t 2
2
2t x
tan x  , where t  tan . (prove)
1 t 2
2

cot A  B 

cos A  B  cos A cos B  sin A sin B

cot A  B   
sin A  B  sin A cos B  cos A sin B

Dividing the numerator and denominator by sin Asin B we have ,

 cos A cos B sin A sin B

 sin A sin B sin A sin B
sin A cos B cos A sin B

sin A sin B sin A sin B
cot A cot B  1
 cot A  B  
cot B  cot A

cot 2 A  1
If A  B , then cot 2 A 
2 cot A
Exercise
1. Prove that
3 tan A  tan 3 A
(i) tan 3 A 
1  3 tan 2 A
cot 3 A  3 cot A
(ii) cot 3 A 
3 cot 2 A
The factor formulae

Consider the compound angle identities for sin A  B 

sin A cos B  cos A sin B  sin A  B 

sin A cos B  cos A sin B  sin A  B 

Adding: 2 sin A sin B  sin A  B   sin A  B  ...........1

Subtracting: 2 cos A sin B  sin A  B   sin A  B  ...........2

Also consider the compound angle identities for cos A  B 

cos A cos B  sin A sin B  cos A  B 

cos A cos B  sin A sin B  cos A  B 

Adding: 2 cos A cos B  cos A  B   cos A  B  .............3

Subtracting:  2 sin A sin B  cos A  B   cos A  B  .............4

The RHS of each of these formulae can be simplified by putting

A B  P
A B  Q

 A
1
P  Q  and B 
1
P  Q 
2 2
  PQ  PQ
Then, sin P  sin Q  2 sin  cos  ...............5
 2   2 

 PQ  PQ
sin P  sin Q  2 cos  sin  ...............6
 2   2 

 PQ  PQ
cos P  cos Q  2 cos  cos  ...............7 
 2   2 

 PQ  PQ
cos P  cos Q  2 sin  sin  ...............8
 2   2 

Identities 5  8 form the factor formulae.

Example

sin A  sin B  A B
1. Prove that  tan  .
cos A  cos B  2 
Solution:
By factor formula,
 A B  A B
2 sin  cos 
sin A  sin B  2   2 

cos A  cos B  A B  A B
2 cos  cos 
 2   2 
 A B
sin 
  2 
 A B
cos 
 2 
 A B
 tan  
 2 

2. Factorize cos  cos 3  cos 5  cos 7 .

Solution:
Grouping in pairs we have
cos 7  cos   cos 5  cos 3   f  
 7     7   
But cos 7  cos  2 cos  cos 
 2   2 
 2 cos 4 cos 3
and
 5  3   5  3 
cos 5  cos 3  2 cos  cos 
 2   2 
  2 cos 4 cos
So f    2 cos 4 cos 3  2 cos 4 cos
 cos 4 cos 3  cos 
  3     3   
 2 cos 4 2 sin  sin 
  2   2 
 cos  cos 3  cos 5  cos 7  4 cos 4 sin 2 sin
3. Prove the identity
cos 2 A  cos 2 B  sin A  BsinB  A
Solution:
Use cos 2 A  1  cos 2 A , cos 2 B  1  cos 2 B 
1 1
2 2
cos 2 A  cos 2 B  1  cos 2 A  1  cos 2 B 
1 1
2 2
 1  cos 2 A  1  cos 2 B 
1
2
  2 sin A  B sin A  B 
1
2
  sin A  B sin A  B 
 sin A  B sinB  A
Exercise
1. Prove the following identities:
cos B  cos C  BC 
(i)  cot 
sin B  sin C  2 
(ii) sin  2 sin 3  sin 5  2 sin cos 4  cos 2 
(iii) cos  2 cos 3  cos 5  2 sin sin 2  sin 4 
cos B  cos C  BC 
(iv)   tan  
sin B  sin C  2 
2. Factorize
(i) sin 4 A  sin 2 A
(ii) cos 7 A  cos A
(iii) sin 2 A  1
(iv) 1 cos 4 A