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Trigonometric identities

Pythagorean, double-angle and sum identities, verified by simplification.

Identities are equations true for every angle. The Pythagorean identity sin²x + cos²x = 1 is Pythagoras on the unit circle; the double-angle and sum formulas follow from it and rotation. To verify one, simplify the difference of the two sides to zero.

Exemplo trabalhado: simplify sin(x)^2 + cos(x)^2

Algebra · Simplifying

Simplify sin(x)^2 + cos(x)^2

\sin^{2}{\left(x \right)} + \cos^{2}{\left(x \right)}

Passo a passo

  1. \sin^{2}{\left(x \right)} + \cos^{2}{\left(x \right)}

    Start from the expression.

  2. 1

    Simplify.

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1

Symbols used here

\sin,\ \cos,\ \tan
sine, cosine, tangent
Ratios of sides in a right triangle; coordinates on the unit circle.
\leq,\ \geq
less/greater than or equal
Inequalities that allow equality; < and > exclude it.
\pi
pi
Ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, 3.14159…
\theta
theta
The usual name for an angle.
^\circ
degrees
1/360 of a full turn. 180° = π radians.
\arcsin,\ \sin^{-1}
inverse sine
The angle whose sine is the given value (and likewise arccos, arctan).

How to: Trigonometric identities

  1. Start from the expression.
  2. Simplify.

Questions people ask

Why radians instead of degrees?

A radian is the angle whose arc equals the radius, so it is a pure ratio rather than an arbitrary 1/360 of a turn. With radians the derivative of sin x is exactly cos x; with degrees a factor of π/180 appears everywhere.

Why does sin x = 1/2 have infinitely many solutions?

Sine repeats every full turn, and within one turn it reaches 1/2 twice (at π/6 and 5π/6). Add any whole number of turns to either and it is still true.

How do I remember the exact values?

Two triangles: the 45-45-90 with sides 1, 1, √2 and the 30-60-90 with sides 1, √3, 2. Every value for 30°, 45° and 60° is a ratio of those sides; symmetry gives the rest of the circle.

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