Further Trigonometric Identities

and their Applications

Introduction
This chapter extends your knowledge of
Trigonometrical identities
You will see how to solve equations involving
combinations of sin, cos and tan
You will learn to express combinations of
these as a transformation of a single graph

Teachings for Exercise 7A

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You need to know and be able to
use the addition formulae

By GCSE Trigonometry:

So the coordinates of P are:

So the coordinates of Q are:

Q

7A

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You need to know and be able to
use the addition formulae

Multiply out
the brackets

Rearrange

7A

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You need to know and be able to
use the addition formulae

You can also work out PQ using the triangle OPQ:

Q

1
1
B-A

2bcCosA
Sub in the values

2Cos(B - A)
Group terms

2Cos(B - A)

2Cos(A - B)

Cos (B A) = Cos (A B)
eg) Cos(60) = Cos(-60)

7A

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You need to know and be able to
use the addition formulae

2Cos(A - B)

2Cos(A - B)
2Cos(A - B)

Cos(A - B)

Subtract 2 from both

sides
Divide by -2

Cos(A - B) = CosACosB + SinASinB

Cos(A + B) = CosACosB - SinASinB
7A

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You need to know and be able to
use the addition formulae

Cos(A - B) CosACosB + SinASinB

Cos(A + B) CosACosB - SinASinB
Sin(A + B) SinACosB + CosASinB
Sin(A - B) SinACosB - CosASinB

7A

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
Tan (A+B)

You need to know and be able to

use the addition formulae
Sin(A + B) = SinACosB + CosASinB

Rewrite

Tan (A+B)

Sin(A - B) = SinACosB - CosASinB

Cos(A - B) = CosACosB +
SinASinB
Cos(A + B) = CosACosB - SinASinB

Tan (A+B)

Show that:

Tan (A + B)

Tan (A+B)

TanA + TanB

Divide top and

bottom by
CosACosB

Simplify each
Fraction

1- TanATanB

Tan

7A

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You need to know and be able to
use the addition formulae

Cos(A - B) CosACosB + SinASinB

Cos(A + B) CosACosB - SinASinB
Sin(A + B) SinACosB + CosASinB
Sin(A - B) SinACosB - CosASinB

Tan (A + B)

Tan (A - B)

You may be asked to prove

either of the Tan
identities using the Sin and
Cos ones!

7A

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You need to know and be able to
use the addition formulae
Cos(A + B) CosACosB - SinASinB

Sin(A - B) SinACosB - CosASinB

Cos(A - B) CosACosB +
SinASinB
Sin(A + B) SinACosB + CosASinB Sin(45 - 30) Sin45Cos30 Cos45Sin30
Sin(A - B) SinACosB - CosASinB

Tan (A + B)

Tan (A - B)
Show, using the formula for Sin(A B),
that:

Sin(45 - 30)
Sin(45 - 30)

Sin(15)

A=45,
B=30
These can be
written as
surds
Multiply
each pair

Group the
fractions up

7A

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You need to know and be able to
use the addition formulae

Given that:

< A < 270

Cos

Use Pythagoras to find the missing side (ignore negatives)

Find the value of:

Tan is positive in the range 180 - 270

Tan(A+B)

Tan (A + B)

90

180

270

360

y = Tan

13

B
12

Use Pythagoras to find the missing side (ignore negatives)

Tan is negative in the range 90 - 180

7A

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You need to know and be able to
use the addition formulae

Given that:

< A < 270

Tan (A + B)
Tan (A + B)

Cos

Find the value of:

Tan (A + B)

Tan(A+B)

Work out the

Numerator and
Denominator

Leave, Change and

Flip

Tan (A + B)

Substitute in TanA
and TanB

Tan (A + B)
Simplify

Tan (A + B)
Although you could just type the whole thing into your
calculator, you still need to show the stages for the
workings marks

7A

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You need to know and be able to use the addition formulae
Given that:

Express Tanx in terms of Tany

Rewrite the sin and cos parts

Multiply out the brackets

Divide all by cosxcosy

Factorise the left side

Simplify
Subtract 3tanxtany
Subtract 2tany

Divide by (2 3tany)

7A

Teachings for Exercise 7B

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can express sin2A, cos 2A and
tan2A in terms of angle A, using
the double angle formulae
Sin(A + B) SinACosB + CosASinB
Sin(A + A) SinACosA + CosASinA

Replace B with A
Simplify

Sin2A 2SinACosA
Sin2A
SinACosA

Sin4A 2Sin2ACos2A
2A 4A

Sin2A 2SinACosA
x 3

3Sin2A 6SinACosA

2A = 60

Sin60 2Sin30Cos30

7B

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can express sin2A, cos 2A and
tan2A in terms of angle A, using
the double angle formulae
Cos(A + B) CosACosB - SinASinB
Cos(A + A) CosACosA - SinASinA

Replace B with A
Simplify

Cos2A Co

Cos2A Co

Replace Cos2A with (1 Sin2A)

Cos2A (1
Cos2A 1

Replace Sin2A with (1 Cos2A)

Cos2A Co1 - Co

Cos2A 2Co
7B

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can express sin2A, cos 2A and
tan2A in terms of angle A, using
the double angle formulae

Tan (A + B)

Replace B with A

Tan (A + A)

Simplify

Tan 2A

Tan 2A

2A = 60

2Tan 2A

Tan 60

Tan A

Tan 2A

x 2

2A = A

7B

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can express sin2A, cos 2A and
tan2A in terms of angle A, using
the double angle formulae

Rewrite the following as a single

Trigonometric function:

Replace the first

part

Rewrite

7B

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can express sin2A, cos 2A and
tan2A in terms of angle A, using
the double angle formulae

Double the
angle parts

Show that:

Can be written as:

Replace
cos4
The 1s
cancel out

7B

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can express sin2A, cos 2A and
tan2A in terms of angle A, using
the double angle formulae

Given that:

Use Pythagoras to find the missing side (ignore negatives)

Find the exact value of:

Cosx is positive so in the range 270 - 360

90

180

Therefore, Sinx is negative

270

360

y = Cos

Sin2x 2SinxCosx

y = Sin

Sin2x = 2

Sin2x =

Sub in Sinx and Cosx

Work out and leave in
surd form

7B

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can express sin2A, cos 2A and
tan2A in terms of angle A, using
the double angle formulae

Given that:

Use Pythagoras to find the missing side (ignore negatives)

Find the exact value of:

Cosx is positive so in the range 270 - 360

180

Therefore, Tanx is negative

270

360

y = Cos

180

270

360

Tan 2x

Tan 2x

90

90

y = Tan

Sub in Tanx

Work out and leave in

surd form

7B

Teachings for Exercise 7C

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
The double angle formulae allow you
to solve more equations and prove
more identities
Prove the identity:

Divide each part by

tan

Rewrite each part

7C

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
The double angle formulae allow you

to solve more equations and prove

more identities

Replace A and B

By expanding:

Show that:

Replace
Sin2A and
Cos 2A
Multiply
out
Replace
cos2A
Multiply out
Group like
terms

7C

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
The double angle formulae allow you
to solve more equations and prove
more identities

Given that:
and

Eliminate and express y in terms of x

Multiply by 4

Subtract 3

Divide
by 3

Replace Cos2 and

Sin

Multiply by -1

Subtract 3, divide by 4
Multiply by -1

7C

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
The double angle formulae allow you
to solve more equations and prove
more identities

Solve the following equation in the range

stated:

(All trigonometrical parts must be in terms

x, rather than 2x)
y = Cos

90

Multiply out the

bracket
Group terms

Factorise

Replace cos2x

180

270

360

or

Solve both pairs

Remember to find
additional answers!

7C

Teachings for Exercise 7D

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can write expressions of the
form acos + bsin, where a and
b are constants, as a sine or
cosine function only
Show that:

Replace with the

expression
Compare each term
they must be equal!

So in the triangle, the Hypotenuse is R

So:

Can be expressed in the form:

R=5

Inverse Cos

Find the smallest value in the

acceptable range given

7D

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can write expressions of the
form acos + bsin, where a and
b are constants, as a sine or
cosine function only
Show that you can express:

Replace with the

expression

Compare each term

they must be equal!

In the form:

So:

R=2

Divide
by 2
Inverse
cos
Find the smallest
value in the
acceptable range

7D

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
Sketch the graph of:

You can write expressions of the

form acos + bsin, where a and
b are constants, as a sine or
cosine function only
Show that you can express:

= Sketch the graph of:

/2

-1

In the form:

/2

-1

/3

/2

/3

/2

At the yintercept,
x=0

-1
-2

Translate
/3 units
right

Vertical
stretch, scale
factor 2

So:

/3

/2

/3

/2

Start out
with sinx

7D

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications

You can write expressions of the

form acos + bsin, where a and
b are constants, as a sine or
cosine function only

Compare each term

they must be equal!

in the form:

So:

Replace with the

expression

Express:

R = 29
Divide by
29
Inverse
cos
Find the smallest
value in the
acceptable range

7D

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can write expressions of the
form acos + bsin, where a and
b are constants, as a sine or
cosine function only

Divide by 29

Inverse Cos

Solve in the given range, the

following equation:

Remember to work out

other values in the
adjusted range

We just showed that the original equation can

be rewritten

Add 68.2 (and

put in order!)

Hence, we can solve this equation instead!

-56.1

Remember to
adjust the
range for (
68.2)

-90

56.1

90

303.9

180

270

y = Cos

360

7D

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications

Rcos( ) chosen as it
gives us the same form
as the expression

You can write expressions of the

form acos + bsin, where a and
b are constants, as a sine or
cosine function only
Find the maximum value of the
following expression, and the
smallest positive value of at which
it arises:

Max value of
cos( - 22.6) = 1
Overall maximum
therefore = 13
Cos peaks at 0
= 22.6 gives us 0

Replace with the

expression
Compare each term
they must be equal!

R = 13
Divide by 13
Inverse
cos
Find the smallest
value in the
acceptable range

7D

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can write expressions of the
form acos + bsin, where a and
b are constants, as a sine or
cosine function only

Whichever ratio is at the start, change the expression into

a function of that (This makes solving problems easier)
Remember to get the + or signs the correct way round!

7D

Teachings for Exercise 7E

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can express sums and differences of
sines and cosines as products of sines
and cosines by using the factor
formulae

You get given all these in the

formula booklet!

7E

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
Using the formulae for Sin(A + B) and Sin (A B),
derive the result that:

You can express sums and differences of

sines and cosines as products of sines
and cosines by using the factor
formulae

1)

2)

Add both sides

together (1 + 2)

Let (A+B) = P
Let (A-B) = Q

2)

1)

1+2
Divide
by 2

1)

2)

1-2
Divide
by 2

7E

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
Show that:

You can express sums and differences of

sines and cosines as products of sines
and cosines by using the factor
formulae

P = 105
Q=
15
Work out the
fraction parts

Sub in values for

Cos60 and Sin45
Work out the
right hand side

7E

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can express sums and differences of
sines and cosines as products of sines
and cosines by using the factor
formulae

Solve in the range indicated:

P = 4

Q = 3
Work out
the
fractions

Set equal
to 0

Adjust the
range

Inverse cos

0
/2

/2

Either the cos or sin

part must equal 0

y = Cos

Solve, remembering to take into account the

different range
Once you have all the values from 0-2, add
2 to them to obtain equivalents

Multiply by 2 and divide by 7

7E

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can express sums and differences of
sines and cosines as products of sines
and cosines by using the factor
formulae

Solve in the range indicated:

P = 4

Adjust the
range

0
/2

/2

Q = 3
Work out
the
fractions
Set equal
to 0
Either the cos or sin
part must equal 0
Inverse sin

y = Sin

Solve, remembering to take into account the

different range
Once you have all the values from 0-2, add
2 to them to obtain equivalents

Multiply by 2

7E

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can express sums and differences of
sines and cosines as products of sines
and cosines by using the factor
formulae

In the numerator:

Ignore sin(x + y)
for now

Use the identity

for adding 2 sines

Prove that:

Simplify
Fractions

Bring back the sin(x + y)

we ignored earlier
Factorise

Numerator:

P = x + 2y
Q=x

7E

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can express sums and differences of
sines and cosines as products of sines
and cosines by using the factor
formulae

In the denominator:

Ignore cos(x + y)
for now

Use the identity for

adding 2 cosines

Prove that:

Simplify
Fractions

Bring back the cos(x + y)

we ignored earlier
Factorise

Numerator:

P = x + 2y
Q=x

Denominator:

7E

Further Trigonometric Identities and their

Applications
You can express sums and differences of
sines and cosines as products of sines
and cosines by using the factor
formulae

Replace the
numerator and
denominator

Cancel out the

(2cosy + 1) brackets

Use one of the

identities from C2

Prove that:

Numerator:

Denominator:

7E

Summary
We have extended the range of techniques we
have for solving trigonometrical equations
We have seen how to combine functions
involving sine and cosine into a single
transformation of sine or cosine
We have learnt several new identities