Chapter12

Trigonometry
12.1 Introduction
In Class IX, you have learnt some elementary concepts of trigonometry which included
trigonometric ratios, finding out other trigonometric ratios if one trigonometric ratio is given,
trigonometric ratios of some specific angles and use of trigonometric ratios in solving right
triangles.
In this chapter, we will discuss trigonometric ratios in more details, learn some fundamental
identities and use these identities in proving other trigonometric identities.
12.2 Trigonometric Identities
Consider any acute angle AOB (Fig.12.1). Let us take a point P on the ray OB and drop the
perpendicular PQ on OA. Thus, we have a right triangle PQO. Let ∠ POQ be G.
We recall that B
PQ , OQ , PQ
sin G = cos G = tan G = OQ , P
OP OP
OP 1 OP 1
cosec G = PQ = sin θ , sec G = OQ = cos θ ,
q
OQ 1
cot G = PQ = tan θ O Q A
Fig. 12.1
PQ PQ OQ sin θ
and tan G = OQ = OP ÷ OP = cos θ .

Further, in the right triangle PQO, we have

OQ 2 + PQ 2 = OP 2 [Using Pythagoras Theorem] (1)

OQ 2 PQ 2 OP 2
or + = =1 [Dividing by OP2]
OP 2 OP 2 OP 2
TRIGONOMETRY................................................................................................................................................ 211

 OQ 2  PQ 2
or   +  =1
 OP   OP 

or (cos G)2 + (sin G)2 = 1

or cos2 G + sin2 G = 1 (2)
Similarly, dividing both sides of (1) by OQ2, we have
2 2 2
OQ PQ OP
2
+ 2
= 2
OQ OQ OQ

 PQ   OP 
2 2

or 1+   = 
 OQ   OQ 

or 1+ (tan G)2 = (sec G)2

or 1 + tan2 G = sec2 G (3)
Again dividing both sides of (1) by PQ2, we get
2 2
 OQ   OP 
  + 1 =  
 PQ   PQ 

(cot G)2 + 1 = (cosec G)2

i.e., cot2 G + 1 = cosec2 G (4)
Relations (2), (3) and (4) found above are all identities. Each of these identities can be
derived from the other e.g., identities (3) and (4) can be derived from identity (2) on dividing
it by cos2 G and sin2 G respectively. (2), (3) and (4) are called fundamental identities.
Sometimes, these are also referred as the Pythagorean identities. These might have been
so named because of the first step, i.e., using Pythagoras theorem to obtain (1) above.
We can use the fundamental identities to express each trigonometric ratio in terms of
any other trigonometric ratio. For example, we can express sin G in terms of cos G, tan G in
terms of sin G, for 0° < G < 90° and so on, as given below :
cos2 G + sin2 G = 1, sin2 G = 1 – cos2 G

sin G = ± 1 − cos 2 θ

∴ sin G = 1 − cos 2 θ [sin G > 0 for acute angles]

212.................................................................................................................................................. MATHEMATICS

Similarly,
sec2 G = 1 + tan2 G

Therefore, sec G = 1 + tan 2 θ

or tan G = sec θ − 1
2

Also, cosec G = 1 + cot 2 θ

or cot G = cosec 2 θ − 1

sin θ sin θ
Further, tan G = = [For 0° < G < 90°, using Identity (2)]
cos θ 1 − sin 2 θ

Similarly, we can find other relations expressing one trigonometric ratio in terms of other
trigonometric ratios which are given in the following table :
Table 12.1
sin G cos G tan G cot G sec G cosec G

tan θ 1 sec2 θ − 1 1
sin G sin G 1 − cos2 θ cosec θ
1 + tan θ 2
1 + cot θ
2
sec θ

1 cot θ 1 cosec 2 θ − 1
cos G 1 − sin θ 2
cos G sec θ
1 + tan 2 θ 1 + cot 2 θ cosec θ

sinθ 1 − cos 2 θ 1 1
tan G tan G sec θ − 1
2
1 − sin 2 θ cos θ cotθ cosec 2 θ − 1

1 − sin 2 θ cos θ 1 1
cot G cot G cosec2 θ − 1
sin θ 1 − cos θ 2
tan θ sec 2 θ − 1

1 1 1 + cot 2 θ cosec θ
sec G cos θ 1 + tan θ 2 sec G
1 − sin 2 θ cot θ cosec 2 θ − 1

1 1 1 + tan 2 θ sec θ
cosec G 1 + cot 2 θ cosec G
sin θ 1 − cos θ 2
tan θ sec 2 θ − 1
TRIGONOMETRY................................................................................................................................................ 213

Fundamental identities are also used to simplify expressions involving trigonometric ratios
and proving other identities as illustrated in the following examples :
Example 1: Simplify the expression sin G (cosec G – sin G).
Solution : We have
 1 
sin G (cosec G – sin G) = sin G  sin θ − sin θ 
 
= 1 – sin2 G
= cos2 G [Using Identity (2)]
Example 2: Simplify :
(sec G + tan G) (1 – sin G)
Solution : We have
 1 sin θ 
(sec G + tan G) (1 – sin G) =  cos θ + cos θ  (1 − sin θ )
 

 1 + sin θ 
=  cos θ  (1 − sin θ)
 

1 − sin 2 θ
=
cos θ

cos 2 θ
= = cos θ [Using Identity (2)]
cos θ

Example 3: Prove that

2 2
cos θ + tan θ − 1 2
2
= tan θ .
sin θ
Solution :

LHS =
2
cos θ + tan θ − 1
2
=
2
tan θ + cos θ − 1
2
=
2
(
tan θ − 1 − cos θ
2
)
2
sin θ 2
sin θ sin θ
2

tan θ2
sin θ 2
= − [Using Identity (2)]
sin 2θ sin 2θ
sin 2 θ 1
= . −1
cos θ sin 2 θ
2
214.................................................................................................................................................. MATHEMATICS

= sec2 G – 1 [Using Identity (3)]

= tan2 G
= RHS
Example 4: Prove that
cot G + tan G = cosec G sec G.
Solution :
cos θ sin θ
LHS = cot G + tan G = sin θ + cos θ

cos 2 θ + sin 2 θ
=
sin θ cosθ
1
= sin θ cosθ [Using Identity (2)]

1 1
= sin θ . cos θ

= cosec G sec G = RHS

Example 5 : Show that
tan4A + tan2A = sec4A – sec2A.
Solution : We have
LHS = tan4A + tan2A = tan2 A (tan2A + 1)
= (sec2A – 1) (sec2A) [Using Identity (3)]
= sec4A – sec2A
= RHS
Example 6 : Prove the identity:
tan 2 θ cosec 2 θ 1
+ =
tan 2 θ − 1 sec 2 θ − cosec 2 θ sin 2 θ − cos 2 θ
Solution : The right hand side has only sin G and cos G. This suggests us to change all the
trigonometric ratios on the left hand side to sin G and cos G. We have
sin 2 θ
2
tan θ cos2 θ sin 2 θ
= = (1)
2
tan θ − 1 sin 2 θ sin 2 θ − cos 2 θ
−1
cos2 θ
TRIGONOMETRY................................................................................................................................................ 215

1
cosec θ sin θ
2
cos 2 θ
2
= = (2)
1 1 sin θ − cos θ
sec θ − cosec θ
2 2 2 2
−
cos2 θ sin 2 θ
Adding (1) and (2), we get
2 2 2 2
tan θ cosec θ sin θ cos θ
LHS = 2 + 2 2 = 2 2 + 2 2
tan θ − 1 sec θ − cosec θ sin θ − cos θ sin θ − cos θ
2 2
sin θ + cos θ 1
= = = RHS
2
sin θ − cos θ
2
sin θ − cos2 θ
2

Example 7: Prove the identity:

cosec A cosec A
+ = 2 sec 2 A
cosec A − 1 cosec A +1

Solution : We have
cosec A cosec A  1 1 
LHS = cosec A − 1 + cosec A + 1 = cosec A  cosec A − 1 + cosec A + 1
 

 cosec A + 1 + cosec A − 1 
= cosecA  (cosec A − 1)(cosec A + 1)
 

cosec A . (2 cosec A ) 2 cosec 2 A

= = [Using Identity (4)]
cosec A − 1 2
cot 2 A

1 sin 2A 2
= 2. 2
. = = 2 sec 2 A
2
sin A cos A cos2A

= RHS

EXERCISE 12.1

1 + tan A
2

1. Simplify :
1 + cot A
2

2. Prove that (cosec G + cot G) (1 – cos G) = sin G.

216.................................................................................................................................................. MATHEMATICS

2
tan θ
3. Prove that = sec θ − 1 .
sec θ + 1

4. Using trigonometric identities, write the following expressions as an integer:

(i) 3 cot2 A – 3 cosec2 A
(ii) 4 tan2 A – 4 sec2 A
(iii) 5 sin2 G + 5 cos2 G
(iv) 7 sec2 B – 7 tan2 B

5. Simplify the following expressions:

3 3
sin θ + cos θ
(i)
sin θ + cos θ

2 − tan θ
(ii) 2 cosec θ − sec θ

Prove the following identities :

cos θ + sin θ
6. = 1 + cot θ
sin θ

cos 2 θ − sin 2 θ
7. = cot θ − tan θ
sin θ cos θ

sin 4 θ − cos 4 θ
8. =1
sin 2 θ − cos 2 θ

sec 2 θ − sin 2 θ
= cosec θ − cos 2 θ
2
9.
tan θ 2

1 1
10. + = 2sec 2 θ
1 − sin θ 1 + sin θ

tan 3 θ − 1
11. = sec 2 θ + tan θ
tan θ − 1
TRIGONOMETRY................................................................................................................................................ 217

12. (1 + sin θ) (1 − sin θ) = sec12θ

13. sin6 G + cos6 G = 1 – 3 sin2 G . cos2 G

1 + cos2A
14. = 2 cosec 2 A − 1
2
sin A

15. tan 2 φ − sin 2 φ = tan 2 φ sin 2 φ

sec φ − 1 1 − cos φ
16. =
sec φ + 1 1 + cos φ

1 − cos θ
17. = (cosec θ − cot θ)2
1 + cos θ

1 + sin A
18. = sec A + tan A
1 − sin A

1 − cos A
19. = cosec A − cot A
1 + cos A

1 + cos A sin A 2
20. + =
sin A 1 + cos A sin A

sin θ + cos θ sin θ − cos θ 2 2

21. + = =
sin θ − cos θ sin θ + cos θ 1 − 2 cos θ 2 sin 2 θ − 1
2

22. (cosec A – sin A) (sec A – cos A) (tan A + cot A) = 1

2 cos2 θ − 1
23. = cot θ − tan θ
sin θ cos θ
218.................................................................................................................................................. MATHEMATICS

24. (sec A – cosA) (cot A + tan A) = tan A sec A

sec θ + tan θ − 1 1 + sin θ

25. =
tan θ − sec θ + 1 cos θ

cot θ cot θ − 1
26. =
1 + tan θ 2 − sec2 θ

tan θ cot θ
27. + = 1 + tan θ + cot θ
1 − cot θ 1 − tan θ

28. tan2 φ + cot2 φ + 2 = sec2 φ cosec2 φ

1 + sin θ cos θ
29. + = 2 sec θ
cos θ 1 + sin θ

tan A tan A
30. + = 2cosec A
sec A − 1 sec A + 1

12.3 Trigonometric Ratios of Complementary Angles

Consider a right triangle PQO (Fig. 12.2). Let ∠ POQ = G. Then ∠ QPO = 90° – G. Clearly,
angles POQ and QPO are complementary angles. We know that
PQ OQ PQ  P
sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ =
OP OP OQ 

OP OP OQ  (1)
cosec θ = , sec θ = , cot θ = 90°– θ
PQ OQ PQ 

Let us now consider the angle QPO, which is

equal to 90° – G and its trigonometric ratios. Here, θ
adjacent side is PQ and opposite side is OQ. So Q O
we have: Fig. 12.2
OQ
sin (90° – G) = = cos G [Using (1) above]
OP
Similarly,
PQ
cos (90° – G) = = sin G
OP
TRIGONOMETRY................................................................................................................................................ 219

OQ
tan (90° – G) = = cot G
PQ

PQ
cot (90° – G) = = tan G
OQ

OP
sec (90° – G) = = cosec G
PQ

OP
cosec (90° – G) = = sec G
OQ
Thus,
sin (90° – θ) = cos θ
, for 0°< θ < 90°
cos (90° – θ) = sin θ

Also, sin 0° = 0 = cos 90°

and sin 90° = 1 = cos 0°
Therefore,
sin (90° − θ ) = cos θ 
, for 0° ≤ θ ≤ 90°
cos (90° − θ) = sin θ
Similarly,
tan (90° – G) = cot G, for 0° < G ≤ 90°
cot (90° – G) = tan G, for 0° ≤ G < 90°
sec (90° – G) = cosec G, for 0° < G ≤ 90°
cosec (90° – G) = sec G, for 0° ≤ G < 90°
You may note that tan 0° = 0 = cot 90°, sec 0° = 1 = cosec 90° and tan 90°, sec 90° etc. are
not defined.
Note : We have seen that
the sine of any angle = the cosine of its complement,
the tangent of any angle = the cotangent of its complement,
the secant of any angle = the cosecant of its complement,
and vice-versa. Perhaps, because of this, the word ‘co’ has been prefixed with sine, tangent
and secant to obtain cosine, cotangent and cosecant.
220.................................................................................................................................................. MATHEMATICS

sin 10°
Example 8: Evaluate .
cos 80°
Solution : cos 80° = sin (90°–80°) [As cos G = sin (90°– G)]
= sin 10°
sin 10° sin 10°
Therefore, =1
cos 80° = sin 10°

Example 9 : Express sin 81° + tan 71° in terms of trigonometric ratios of angles between 0°
and 45°.
Solution : sin 81° + tan 71° = cos (90° – 81°) + cot (90° – 71°)
= cos 9° + cot 19°
Example 10 : Find G if sin (G + 36°) = cos G, where G + 36° is an acute angle.
Solution : sin (G + 36°) = cos G (Given)
or cos [90° – (G + 36°)] = cos G
∴ 90° – (G + 36°) = G
or 2G = 54°
or G = 27°
Example 11 : If tan 2G = cot (G + 6°), where 2G and G + 6° are acute angles, find the value
of G.
Solution : We have:
tan 2G = cot (G + 6°)
or cot (90° – 2G) = cot (G + 6°)
∴ 90° – 2G = G + 6°
or 3G = 84°
or G = 28°
EXERCISE 12.2
cos 59°
1. Evaluate .
sin 31°
2. Find the value of :

tan 49° cot 50°

(i) (ii)
cot 41° tan 40°
cosec 39°
3. Show that = 1.
sec 51°
TRIGONOMETRY................................................................................................................................................ 221

4. Express cos 75° + cot 75° in terms of trigonometric ratios of angles between 0° and 45°.

5. Evaluate :

cos 2 20° + cos 2 70°

(i) sin2 20° + sin2 70° (ii)
sin 2 59° + sin 2 31°

6. Evaluate :
 sin 27° 2  cos 63° 2
  + 
   
 cos 63°   sin 27° 

7. Evaluate :
cosec2 67° – tan2 23°
Prove that :

cos (90° − θ ) sin θ

+ = 2, θ ≠ 0°
8. sin θ cos (90° − θ )

9. sec2 G – cot2 (90° – G) = cos2 (90° – G) + cos2 G

cos (90° − θ ) cos θ

10. + cos 2 (90° − θ) = 1
tan θ

11. cos (81° + G) = sin (9° – G)

cos 20° cos θ

+ =2
12. sin 70° sin (90° − θ)

tan θ
13. sin (90° – G) . cos (90° – G) =
1 + tan 2 θ

14. sin G cos (90° – G) + cos G sin(90° – G) = 1

15. cos G cos (90° – G) – sin G sin(90° – G) = 0

16. cot (90° – G) sin(90° – G) = sin G

222.................................................................................................................................................. MATHEMATICS

17. tan 15° tan 20° tan 70° tan 75° = 1

18. Evaluate :
3 sin 62° sec 42°
−
cos 28° cosec 48°

19. If sin 3G = cos G – 6°), where 3G and G – 6°) are acute angles, find the value of G.

20. If A and B are acute angles and sin A = cos B, prove that A + B = 90°.

21. If A, B, C are the interior angles of a triangle ABC, show that

B+C A
sin = cos .
2 2
[Hint : Sum of the angles of a triangle is 180°.]