Below are some of the most important definitions, identities and formulas in
trigonometry.
1. Trigonometric Functions of Acute Angles
sin X = opp / hyp = a / c , csc X = hyp / opp = c / a
tan X = opp / adj = a / b , cot X = adj / opp = b / a
cos X = adj / hyp = b / c , sec X = hyp / adj = c / b ,
2. Trigonometric Functions of Arbitrary Angles
sin X = b / r , csc X = r / b
tan X = b / a , cot X = a / b
cos X = a / r , sec X = r / a
3. Special Triangles
Special triangles may be used to find trigonometric functions of special
angles: 30, 45 and 60 degress.
4. Sine and Cosine Laws in Triangles
In any triangle we have:
1 - The sine law
sin A / a = sin B / b = sin C / c
2 - The cosine laws
a 2 = b 2 + c 2 - 2 b c cos A
b 2 = a 2 + c 2 - 2 a c cos B
c 2 = a 2 + b 2 - 2 a b cos C
5. Relations Between Trigonometric Functions
cscX = 1 / sinX
sinX = 1 / cscX
secX = 1 / cosX
cosX = 1 / secX
tanX = 1 / cotX
cotX = 1 / tanX
tanX = sinX / cosX
cotX = cosX / sinX
6. Pythagorean Identities
sin 2X + cos 2X = 1
1 + tan 2X = sec 2X
1 + cot 2X = csc 2X
7. Negative Angle Identities
sin(-X) = - sinX , odd function
csc(-X) = - cscX , odd function
cos(-X) = cosX , even function
sec(-X) = secX , even function
tan(-X) = - tanX , odd function
cot(-X) = - cotX , odd function
8. Cofunctions Identities
sin(pi/2 - X) = cosX
cos(pi/2 - X) = sinX
tan(pi/2 - X) = cotX
cot(pi/2 - X) = tanX
sec(pi/2 - X) = cscX
csc(pi/2 - X) = secX
9. Addition Formulas
cos(X + Y) = cosX cosY - sinX sinY
cos(X - Y) = cosX cosY + sinX sinY
sin(X + Y) = sinX cosY + cosX sinY
sin(X - Y) = sinX cosY - cosX sinY
tan(X + Y) = [ tanX + tanY ] / [ 1 - tanX tanY]
tan(X - Y) = [ tanX - tanY ] / [ 1 + tanX tanY]
cot(X + Y) = [ cotX cotY - 1 ] / [ cotX + cotY]
cot(X - Y) = [ cotX cotY + 1 ] / [ cotX - cotY]
10. Sum to Product Formulas
cosX + cosY = 2cos[ (X + Y) / 2 ] cos[ (X - Y) / 2 ]
sinX + sinY = 2sin[ (X + Y) / 2 ] cos[ (X - Y) / 2 ]
11. Difference to Product Formulas
cosX - cosY = - 2sin[ (X + Y) / 2 ] sin[ (X - Y) / 2 ]
sinX - sinY = 2cos[ (X + Y) / 2 ] sin[ (X - Y) / 2 ]
12. Product to Sum/Difference Formulas
cosX cosY = (1/2) [ cos (X - Y) + cos (X + Y) ]
sinX cosY = (1/2) [ sin (X + Y) + sin (X - Y) ]
cosX sinY = (1/2) [ sin (X + Y) - sin[ (X - Y) ]
sinX sinY = (1/2) [ cos (X - Y) - cos (X + Y) ]
13. Difference of Squares Formulas
sin 2X - sin 2Y = sin(X + Y)sin(X - Y)
cos 2X - cos 2Y = - sin(X + Y)sin(X - Y)
cos 2X - sin 2Y = cos(X + Y)cos(X - Y)
14. Double Angle Formulas
sin(2X) = 2 sinX cosX
cos(2X) = 1 - 2sin 2X = 2cos 2X - 1
tan(2X) = 2tanX / [ 1 - tan 2X ]
15. Multiple Angle Formulas
sin(3X) = 3sinX - 4sin 3X
cos(3X) = 4cos 3X - 3cosX
sin(4X) = 4sinXcosX - 8sin 3XcosX
cos(4X) = 8cos 4X - 8cos 2X + 1
16. Half Angle Formulas
sin (X/2) = + or - SQRT [ (1 - cosX) / 2 ]
cos (X/2) = + or - SQRT [ (1 + cosX) / 2 ]
tan (X/2) = + or - SQRT [ (1 - cosX) / (1 - cosX) ]
= sinX / (1 + cosX) = (1 - cosX) / sinX
17. Power Reducing Formulas
sin 2X = 1/2 - (1/2)cos(2X))
cos 2X = 1/2 + (1/2)cos(2X))
sin 3X = (3/4)sinX - (1/4)sin(3X)
cos 3X = (3/4)cosX + (1/4)cos(3X)
sin 4X = (3/8) - (1/2)cos(2X) + (1/8)cos(4X)
cos 4X = (3/8) + (1/2)cos(2X) + (1/8)cos(4X)
sin 5X = (5/8)sinX - (5/16)sin(3X) + (1/16)sin(5X)
cos 5X = (5/8)cosX + (5/16)cos(3X) + (1/16)cos(5X)
sin 6X = 5/16 - (15/32)cos(2X) + (6/32)cos(4X) - (1/32)cos(6X)
cos 6X = 5/16 + (15/32)cos(2X) + (6/32)cos(4X) + (1/32)cos(6X)
18. Trigonometric Functions Periodicity
sin (X + 2Pi) = sin X , period 2Pi
cos (X + 2Pi) = cos X , period 2Pi
sec (X + 2Pi) = sec X , period 2Pi
csc (X + 2Pi) = csc X , period 2Pi
tan (X + Pi) = tan X , period Pi
cot (X + Pi) = cot X , period Pi
Trigonometry Trigonometry Page 1
Trigonometric Identities Co-Function Identities
Pythagorean Identities Negative Identities
Sum/Difference Formulas Power Reducing
Rules of Sign Sum To Product
Reduction Formulae Product To Sum
Half Angle Other Trigonometry Identities
Double Angle
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Trigonometric Identities:
Top
Pythagorean Identities:
Top
Sum / Difference Formulas
Top
Rules of Sign
Quadrant sin cos tan
cosec sec cot
I + + +
II + - -
III - - +
IV - + -
Top
Reduction Formulae
Angle/Function sin cos tan
-θ -sin θ cos θ -tan θ
90°- θ cos θ sin θ cot θ
90°+ θ cos θ -sin θ -cot θ
180°- θ sin θ -cos θ -tan θ
180°+ θ -sin θ -cos θ tan θ
270°+ θ -cos θ -sin θ cot θ
270°+ θ -cos θ sin θ -cot θ
360°+ θ -sin θ cos θ -tan θ
Top
Half Angle
Top
Double Angle
Top
Co-function Identities
Top
Negative Angle Identities
Top
Power Reducing
Top
Sum To Product
Top
Product To Sum
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Other Trigonometry Identities
Trigonometric Tables
Below are trigonometric tables of all 6 trigonometric functions,
with angles in degrees and radians. Copies of these tables can be
downloaded.
Properties of Trigonometric Functions
The properties of the 6 trigonometric functions: sin (x), cos
(x), tan(x), cot (x), sec (x) and csc (x)are discussed. These include the
graph, domain, range, asymptotes (if any), symmetry, x and y intercepts
and maximum and minimum points.
Sine Function : f(x) = sin (x)
Graph
Domain: all real numbers
Range: [-1 , 1]
Period = 2pi
x intercepts: x = k pi , where k is an integer.
y intercepts: y = 0
maximum points: (pi/2 + 2 k pi , 1) , where k is an integer.
minimum points: (3pi/2 + 2 k pi , -1) , where k is an integer.
symmetry: since sin(-x) = - sin (x) then sin (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect to the origon (0 , 0).
intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
2pi, sin (x) is increasing on the intervals (0 , pi/2) and (3pi/2 , 2pi),
and decreasing on the interval (pi/2 , 3pi/2).
Cosine Function : f(x) = cos (x)
Graph
Domain: all real numbers
Range: [-1 , 1]
Period = 2pi
x intercepts: x = pi/2 + k pi , where k is an integer.
y intercepts: y = 1
maximum points: (2 k pi , 1) , where k is an integer.
minimum points: (pi + 2 k pi , -1) , where k is an integer.
symmetry: since cos(-x) = cos (x) then cos (x) is an even function
and its graph is symmetric with respect to the y axis.
intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
2pi, cos (x) is decreasing on (0 , pi) increasing on (pi , 2pi).
Tangent Function : f(x) = tan (x)
Graph
Domain: all real numbers except pi/2 + k pi, k is an integer.
Range: all real numbers
Period = pi
x intercepts: x = k pi , where k is an integer.
y intercepts: y = 0
symmetry: since tan(-x) = - tan(x) then tan (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect the origin.
intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from -pi/2
to pi/2, tan (x) is increasing.
Vertical asymptotes: x = pi/2 + k pi, where k is an integer.
Cotangent Function : f(x) = cot (x)
Graph
Domain: all real numbers except k pi, k is an integer.
Range: all real numbers
Period = pi
x intercepts: x = pi /2 + k pi , where k is an integer.
symmetry: since cot(-x) = - cot(x) then cot (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect the origin.
intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
pi, cot (x) is decreasing.
Vertical asymptotes: x = k pi, where k is an integer.
Secant Function : f(x) = sec (x)
Graph
Domain: all real numbers except pi/2 + k pi, n is an integer.
Range: (-infinity , -1] U [1 , +infinity)
Period = 2 pi
y intercepts: y = 1
symmetry: since sec(-x) = sec (x) then sec (x) is an even function
and its graph is symmetric with respect to the y axis.
intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to 2
pi, sec (x) is increasing on (0 , pi/2) U (pi/2 , pi) and decreasing on
(pi , 3pi/2) U (3pi/2 , 2pi).
Vertical asymptotes: x = pi/2 + k pi, where k is an integer.
Cosecant Function : f(x) = csc (x)
Graph
Domain: all real numbers except k pi, k is an integer.
Range: (-infinity , -1] U [1 , +infinity)
Period = 2pi
symmetry: since csc(-x) = - csc(x) then csc (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect the origin.
intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
2pi, csc (x) is decreasing on (0 , pi/2) U (3pi/2 , 2pi) and
increasing on (pi/2 , pi) U (pi / 3pi/2).
Vertical asymptotes: x = k pi, where k is an integer.
The properties of the 6 trigonometric functions: sin (x), cos
(x), tan(x), cot (x), sec (x) and csc (x)are discussed. These include the
graph, domain, range, asymptotes (if any), symmetry, x and y intercepts
and maximum and minimum points.
Sine Function : f(x) = sin (x)
Graph
Domain: all real numbers
Range: [-1 , 1]
Period = 2pi
x intercepts: x = k pi , where k is an integer.
y intercepts: y = 0
maximum points: (pi/2 + 2 k pi , 1) , where k is an integer.
minimum points: (3pi/2 + 2 k pi , -1) , where k is an integer.
symmetry: since sin(-x) = - sin (x) then sin (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect to the origon (0 , 0).
intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
2pi, sin (x) is increasing on the intervals (0 , pi/2) and (3pi/2 , 2pi),
and decreasing on the interval (pi/2 , 3pi/2).
Cosine Function : f(x) = cos (x)
Graph
Domain: all real numbers
Range: [-1 , 1]
Period = 2pi
x intercepts: x = pi/2 + k pi , where k is an integer.
y intercepts: y = 1
maximum points: (2 k pi , 1) , where k is an integer.
minimum points: (pi + 2 k pi , -1) , where k is an integer.
symmetry: since cos(-x) = cos (x) then cos (x) is an even function
and its graph is symmetric with respect to the y axis.
intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
2pi, cos (x) is decreasing on (0 , pi) increasing on (pi , 2pi).
Tangent Function : f(x) = tan (x)
Graph
Domain: all real numbers except pi/2 + k pi, k is an integer.
Range: all real numbers
Period = pi
x intercepts: x = k pi , where k is an integer.
y intercepts: y = 0
symmetry: since tan(-x) = - tan(x) then tan (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect the origin.
intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from -pi/2
to pi/2, tan (x) is increasing.
Vertical asymptotes: x = pi/2 + k pi, where k is an integer.
Cotangent Function : f(x) = cot (x)
Graph
Domain: all real numbers except k pi, k is an integer.
Range: all real numbers
Period = pi
x intercepts: x = pi /2 + k pi , where k is an integer.
symmetry: since cot(-x) = - cot(x) then cot (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect the origin.
intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
pi, cot (x) is decreasing.
Vertical asymptotes: x = k pi, where k is an integer.
Secant Function : f(x) = sec (x)
Graph
Domain: all real numbers except pi/2 + k pi, n is an integer.
Range: (-infinity , -1] U [1 , +infinity)
Period = 2 pi
y intercepts: y = 1
symmetry: since sec(-x) = sec (x) then sec (x) is an even function
and its graph is symmetric with respect to the y axis.
intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to 2
pi, sec (x) is increasing on (0 , pi/2) U (pi/2 , pi) and decreasing on
(pi , 3pi/2) U (3pi/2 , 2pi).
Vertical asymptotes: x = pi/2 + k pi, where k is an integer.
Cosecant Function : f(x) = csc (x)
Graph
Domain: all real numbers except k pi, k is an integer.
Range: (-infinity , -1] U [1 , +infinity)
Period = 2pi
symmetry: since csc(-x) = - csc(x) then csc (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect the origin.
intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
2pi, csc (x) is decreasing on (0 , pi/2) U (3pi/2 , 2pi) and
increasing on (pi/2 , pi) U (pi / 3pi/2).
Vertical asymptotes: x = k pi, where k is an integer.
