Fundamental Trigonometric IdentitiesMATH 160, Precalculus
J. Robert Buchanan
Department of Mathematics
Fall 2011
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Objectives
In this lesson we will learn to:
recognize and write the fundamental trigonometricidentities,
use the fundamental trigonometric identities to evaluatetrigonometric functions, simplify trigonometric expressions,and to rewrite trigonometric expressions.
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Pythagorean Identities
sin2 u + cos2 u = 1
1 + tan2 u = sec2 u
1 + cot2 u = csc2 u
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Quotient and Reciprocal Identities
tan u =sin ucos u
sin u =1
csc u
cos u =1
sec u
tan u =1
cot u
cot u =cos usin u
csc u =1
sin u
sec u =1
cos u
cot u =1
tan u
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Cofunction Identities
sin(π
2− u
)
= cos u
cos(π
2− u
)
= sin u
tan(π
2− u
)
= cot u
csc(π
2− u
)
= sec u
sec(π
2− u
)
= csc u
cot(π
2− u
)
= tan u
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Even/Odd Identities
sin (−u) = − sin u
cos (−u) = cos u
tan (−u) = − tan u
csc (−u) = − csc u
sec (−u) = sec u
cot (−u) = − cot u
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (1 of 9)
If csc θ = −5 and cos θ < 0 find the values of all sixtrigonometric functions.
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (1 of 9)
If csc θ = −5 and cos θ < 0 find the values of all sixtrigonometric functions.
sin θ =
cos θ =
tan θ =
cot θ =
sec θ =
csc θ = −5
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (1 of 9)
If csc θ = −5 and cos θ < 0 find the values of all sixtrigonometric functions.
sin θ = − 15
cos θ = − 2√
65
tan θ =
√6
12cot θ = 2
√6
sec θ = − 5√
612
csc θ = −5
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (2 of 9)
Factor and simplify the following expression.
sin2 x csc2 x − sin2 x =
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (2 of 9)
Factor and simplify the following expression.
sin2 x csc2 x − sin2 x = sin2 x(csc2 x − 1)
= sin2 x(cot2 x)
= sin2 x(
cos2 x
sin2 x
)
= cos2 x
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (3 of 9)
Factor and simplify the following expression.
sec4 x − tan4 x =
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (3 of 9)
Factor and simplify the following expression.
sec4 x − tan4 x = (sec2 x + tan2 x)(sec2 x − tan2 x)
= (sec2 x + tan2 x)(1)
= sec2 x + tan2 x
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (4 of 9)
Factor and simplify the following expression.
cos4 x − 2 cos2 x + 1 =
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (4 of 9)
Factor and simplify the following expression.
cos4 x − 2 cos2 x + 1 = (cos2 x − 1)2
= (− sin2 x)
= sin4 x
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (5 of 9)
Carry out the multiplication and simplify the followingexpression.
(cot x + csc x)(cot x − csc x) =
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (5 of 9)
Carry out the multiplication and simplify the followingexpression.
(cot x + csc x)(cot x − csc x) = cot2 x − csc2 x
= −(csc2 x − cot2 x)
= −1
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (6 of 9)
Perform the subtraction and simplify the following expression.
1sec x + 1
− 1sec x − 1
=
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (6 of 9)
Perform the subtraction and simplify the following expression.
1sec x + 1
− 1sec x − 1
=sec x − 1
(sec x + 1)(sec x − 1)− sec x + 1
(sec x − 1)(sec x + 1)
=sec x − 1 − (sec x + 1)
sec2 x − 1
=−2
tan2 x= −2 cot2 x
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (7 of 9)
Rewrite the following expression so that it is not in fractionalform.
5sec x + tan x
=
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (7 of 9)
Rewrite the following expression so that it is not in fractionalform.
5sec x + tan x
=5
(sec x + tan x)
(sec x − tan x)
(sec x − tan x)
=5(sec x − tan x)
(sec x + tan x)(sec x − tan x)
=5(sec x − tan x)
sec2 x − tan2 x
=5(sec x − tan x)
1= 5 sec x − 5 tan x
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (8 of 9)
Substitute x = 2 cos θ with 0 < θ < π/2 in the expression√
64 − 16x2
and simplify.
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (8 of 9)
Substitute x = 2 cos θ with 0 < θ < π/2 in the expression√
64 − 16x2
and simplify.
√
64 − 16x2 =√
64 − 16(2 cos θ)2
=√
64 − 64 cos2 θ
=√
64(1 − cos2 θ)
=√
64 sin2 θ
= 8 sin θ
since sin θ > 0 when 0 < θ < π/2.
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (9 of 9)
Rewrite the following expression as a single logarithm andsimplify the result.
ln | tan x | + ln | csc x | =
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Example (9 of 9)
Rewrite the following expression as a single logarithm andsimplify the result.
ln | tan x | + ln | csc x | = ln | tan x csc x |
= ln∣
∣
∣
∣
sin xcos x
1sin x
∣
∣
∣
∣
= ln
∣
∣
∣
∣
1cos x
∣
∣
∣
∣
= ln | sec x |
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Homework
Read Section 5.1.
Exercises: 1, 5, 9, 13, . . . , 113, 117
J. Robert Buchanan Fundamental Trigonometric Identities