Topic: Sum-difference identities for sine and cosine

Question: Simplify the sum.

(−sin 70∘)(cos 42∘) + (cos 70∘)sin(42∘)

Answer choices:

A cos 112∘

B sin 28∘

C sin(−28∘)

D sin(−112∘)

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Solution: C

The expression is in the form

sin(θ + α) = sin θ cos α + cos θ sin α

Substitute the angles from the expression.

sin(−70∘ + 42∘) = (sin(−70∘))(cos 42∘) + (cos(−70∘))(sin 42∘)

By the odd identity sin(−θ) = − sin θ and the even identity cos(−θ) = cos θ,
this equation becomes

sin(−70∘ + 42∘) = (−sin 70∘)(cos 42∘) + (cos 70∘)(sin 42∘)

sin(−28∘) = (−sin 70∘)(cos 42∘) + (cos 70∘)(sin 42∘)

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Topic: Sum-difference identities for sine and cosine

Question: Let θ be an angle in the second quadrant whose sine is 1/3, and
let α be an angle in the fourth quadrant whose cosine is 2/ 5. What are
the exact values of sin(θ + α) and cos(θ − α)?

Answer choices:

2+2 2 4 2+1
A sin(θ + α) = cos(θ − α) = −
3 5 3 5

2−2 2 4 2+1
B sin(θ + α) = cos(θ − α) = −
3 5 3 5

2+2 2 4 2−1
C sin(θ + α) = cos(θ − α) =
3 5 3 5

2+2 2 4 2−1
D sin(θ + α) = − cos(θ − α) =
3 5 3 5

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Solution: A

Rewrite the Pythagorean identity with sine and cosine sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1 as

cos2 θ = 1 − sin2 θ

Substitute sin θ = 1/3.

(3)
2
1
cos2 θ = 1 −

2 1
cos θ = 1 −
9

2 8
cos θ =
9

8
cos θ = ±
9

Since θ is in the second quadrant, cos θ is negative.

8 8 4(2) 2 2
cos θ = − =− =− =−
9 9 3 3

Rewrite the Pythagorean identity with sine and cosine sin2 α + cos2 α = 1 as

sin2 α = 1 − cos2 α

Substitute cos α = 2/ 5.

( 5)
2
sin2 α = 1 −

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 4
sin2 α = 1 −
5

1
sin2 α =
5

1
sin α = ±
5

Since α is in the fourth quadrant, sin α is negative.

1 1
sin α = − =−
5 5

By the sum identity for the sine function,

sin(θ + α) = sin θ cos α + cos θ sin α

(3)( 5 ) ( 3 )( 5)
1 2 2 2 1
sin(θ + α) = + − −

2 2 2
sin(θ + α) = +
3 5 3 5

2+2 2
sin(θ + α) =
3 5

By the difference identity for the cosine function,

cos(θ − α) = cos θ cos α + sin θ sin α

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 ( 3 )( 5) (3)( 5)
2 2 2 1 1
cos(θ − α) = − + −

4 2 1
cos(θ − α) = − −
3 5 3 5

1+4 2
cos(θ − α) = −
3 5

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Topic: Sum-difference identities for sine and cosine

Question: Simplify the expression.

( 3 ) ( 6 ) ( 3 ) ( 6 )
2π 11π 2π 11π
cos cos + sin sin

Answer choices:

3
A −
2

1
B −
2

C 1

1
D
2

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Solution: A

The expression is in the form of the difference identity for cosine,

cos(θ − α) = cos θ cos α + sin θ sin α

so we’ll substitute the angles from the expression.

( 6 3 ) ( 6 ) ( 3 ) ( 6 ) ( 3 )
11π 2π 11π 2π 11π 2π
cos − = cos cos + sin sin

( 6 6 ) ( 6 ) ( 3 ) ( 6 ) ( 3 )
11π 4π 11π 2π 11π 2π
cos − = cos cos + sin sin

( 6 ) ( 2 )( 2) ( 2)( 2 )
7π 3 1 1 3
cos = − + −

( 6 )
7π 3 3
cos =− −
4 4

( 6 )
7π 3
cos =−
2

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