SUM, DIFFERENCE, AND COFUNCTION

IDENTITIES
Learning Objectives
1. derive trigonometric identities involving sum and
difference of angles
2. derive the cofunction identities
 Complementary Angles
if the sum of their measures is 90°

If α and β are the acute angles of a right triangle,

cos α = sin β and sin α = cos β
tan α = cot β
Sum and Difference Identities
cos(x – y) = cos x cos y + sin x sin y
cos(x + y) = cos x cos y – sin x sin y

sin(x – y) = sin x cos y – cos x sin y

sin(x + y) = sin x cos y + cos x sin y
Cofunction Identities

π
cos − y = sin y
2

π
sin − y = cos y
2
 𝜋
Evaluate cos .
12

𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
= −
12 3 4

From the difference identity:

𝜋 𝜋 𝜋 𝜋 𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
cos = cos − = cos cos + sin sin
12 3 4 3 4 3 4
1 2 3 2 𝟐+ 𝟔
= + =
2 2 2 2 𝟒
Sum and Difference Identities

tan x +tan y
tan(x + y)=
1−tan x tan y
tan x −tan y
tan(x − y)=
1+tan x tan y
Cofunction Identities
π
tan −x = cot x
2
π
cot −x = tan x
2
π
sec −x = csc x
2
π
csc −x = sec x
2
 tan 50°−tan 20°
Evaluate:
1+tan 50° tan 20°

tan 50° − tan 20°

1 + tan 50° tan 20°
= tan 50° − 20°
𝟏
= tan 30° =
𝟑
Sum and Difference Identities

cos(x ± y) = cos x cos y ∓ sin x sin y

sin(x ± y) = sin x cos y ± cos x sin y
tan x ±tan y
tan(x ± y)=
1∓tan x tan y
Cofunction Identities
π
co𝑠 − 𝑦 = sin y
2

π
cot − x = tan x
2

π
csc − x = sec x
2
Exercises
Evaluate the following:
1. sin 143° cos 23° − cos 143° sin 23°
tan 28°+tan 17°
2. 1−tan 28° tan 17°
5π
3. sin
12
4. tan(15°)
4 5
5. Find cos(α − β) given sin α = and sin β = ,
5 13
where both α and β are in the first quadrant