trigonometry

Trigonometric Identities

Trig identities are equations relating trigonometric functions that hold for all valid angles, e.g. sin²θ + cos²θ = 1. Used to simplify expressions and solve equations.

Trigonometric identities are equations involving trig functions that hold for all valid angles.

Core identities every student must memorise:

Pythagorean: sin⁡2θ+cos⁡2θ=1\sin^2\theta + \cos^2\theta = 1, 1+tan⁡2θ=sec⁡2θ1 + \tan^2\theta = \sec^2\theta, 1+cot⁡2θ=csc⁡2θ1 + \cot^2\theta = \csc^2\theta.

Reciprocal: csc⁡=1/sin⁡\csc = 1/\sin, sec⁡=1/cos⁡\sec = 1/\cos, cot⁡=1/tan⁡\cot = 1/\tan.

Quotient: tan⁡θ=sin⁡θ/cos⁡θ\tan\theta = \sin\theta / \cos\theta.

Even-odd: sin⁡(−θ)=−sin⁡θ\sin(-\theta) = -\sin\theta, cos⁡(−θ)=cos⁡θ\cos(-\theta) = \cos\theta.

Sum: sin⁡(A±B)=sin⁡Acos⁡B±cos⁡Asin⁡B\sin(A \pm B) = \sin A \cos B \pm \cos A \sin B.

Double-angle: sin⁡(2θ)=2sin⁡θcos⁡θ\sin(2\theta) = 2\sin\theta\cos\theta, cos⁡(2θ)=cos⁡2θ−sin⁡2θ\cos(2\theta) = \cos^2\theta - \sin^2\theta.

For full reference see Trigonometry Identities Cheat Sheet. Identities power calculus integrals, Fourier series, and geometric proofs.

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