Below are some of the most important definitions, identities and formulas in

trigonometry.

1. Trigonometric Functions of Acute Angles

sin X = opp / hyp = a / c , csc X = hyp / opp = c / a 

tan X = opp / adj = a / b , cot X = adj / opp = b / a 

cos X = adj / hyp = b / c , sec X = hyp / adj = c / b , 

2. Trigonometric Functions of Arbitrary Angles

sin X = b / r , csc X = r / b 

tan X = b / a , cot X = a / b 

cos X = a / r , sec X = r / a 

3. Special Triangles
 Special triangles may be used to find trigonometric functions of special
angles: 30, 45 and 60 degress. 

4. Sine and Cosine Laws in Triangles

In any triangle we have: 

1 - The sine law 

sin A / a = sin B / b = sin C / c 

2 - The cosine laws 

a 2 = b 2 + c 2 - 2 b c cos A 

b 2 = a 2 + c 2 - 2 a c cos B 

c 2 = a 2 + b 2 - 2 a b cos C 

5. Relations Between Trigonometric Functions

cscX = 1 / sinX 

sinX = 1 / cscX 
 secX = 1 / cosX 

cosX = 1 / secX 

tanX = 1 / cotX 

cotX = 1 / tanX 

tanX = sinX / cosX 

cotX = cosX / sinX

6. Pythagorean Identities
sin 2X + cos 2X = 1 

1 + tan 2X = sec 2X 

1 + cot 2X = csc 2X

7. Negative Angle Identities

sin(-X) = - sinX , odd function 

csc(-X) = - cscX , odd function 

cos(-X) = cosX , even function 

sec(-X) = secX , even function 

tan(-X) = - tanX , odd function 

cot(-X) = - cotX , odd function

8. Cofunctions Identities
sin(pi/2 - X) = cosX 

cos(pi/2 - X) = sinX 

tan(pi/2 - X) = cotX 

cot(pi/2 - X) = tanX 

sec(pi/2 - X) = cscX 
 csc(pi/2 - X) = secX

9. Addition Formulas
cos(X + Y) = cosX cosY - sinX sinY 

cos(X - Y) = cosX cosY + sinX sinY 

sin(X + Y) = sinX cosY + cosX sinY 

sin(X - Y) = sinX cosY - cosX sinY 

tan(X + Y) = [ tanX + tanY ] / [ 1 - tanX tanY] 

tan(X - Y) = [ tanX - tanY ] / [ 1 + tanX tanY] 

cot(X + Y) = [ cotX cotY - 1 ] / [ cotX + cotY] 

cot(X - Y) = [ cotX cotY + 1 ] / [ cotX - cotY]

10. Sum to Product Formulas

cosX + cosY = 2cos[ (X + Y) / 2 ] cos[ (X - Y) / 2 ] 

sinX + sinY = 2sin[ (X + Y) / 2 ] cos[ (X - Y) / 2 ]

11. Difference to Product Formulas

cosX - cosY = - 2sin[ (X + Y) / 2 ] sin[ (X - Y) / 2 ] 

sinX - sinY = 2cos[ (X + Y) / 2 ] sin[ (X - Y) / 2 ]

12. Product to Sum/Difference Formulas

cosX cosY = (1/2) [ cos (X - Y) + cos (X + Y) ] 

sinX cosY = (1/2) [ sin (X + Y) + sin (X - Y) ] 

cosX sinY = (1/2) [ sin (X + Y) - sin[ (X - Y) ] 

sinX sinY = (1/2) [ cos (X - Y) - cos (X + Y) ]

13. Difference of Squares Formulas

 sin 2X - sin 2Y = sin(X + Y)sin(X - Y) 

cos 2X - cos 2Y = - sin(X + Y)sin(X - Y) 

cos 2X - sin 2Y = cos(X + Y)cos(X - Y)

14. Double Angle Formulas

sin(2X) = 2 sinX cosX 

cos(2X) = 1 - 2sin 2X = 2cos 2X - 1 

tan(2X) = 2tanX / [ 1 - tan 2X ]

15. Multiple Angle Formulas

sin(3X) = 3sinX - 4sin 3X 

cos(3X) = 4cos 3X - 3cosX 

sin(4X) = 4sinXcosX - 8sin 3XcosX 

cos(4X) = 8cos 4X - 8cos 2X + 1

16. Half Angle Formulas

sin (X/2) = + or - SQRT [ (1 - cosX) / 2 ] 

cos (X/2) = + or - SQRT [ (1 + cosX) / 2 ] 

tan (X/2) = + or - SQRT [ (1 - cosX) / (1 - cosX) ] 

= sinX / (1 + cosX) = (1 - cosX) / sinX

17. Power Reducing Formulas

sin 2X = 1/2 - (1/2)cos(2X)) 

cos 2X = 1/2 + (1/2)cos(2X)) 

sin 3X = (3/4)sinX - (1/4)sin(3X) 

cos 3X = (3/4)cosX + (1/4)cos(3X) 

 sin 4X = (3/8) - (1/2)cos(2X) + (1/8)cos(4X) 

cos 4X = (3/8) + (1/2)cos(2X) + (1/8)cos(4X) 

sin 5X = (5/8)sinX - (5/16)sin(3X) + (1/16)sin(5X) 

cos 5X = (5/8)cosX + (5/16)cos(3X) + (1/16)cos(5X) 

sin 6X = 5/16 - (15/32)cos(2X) + (6/32)cos(4X) - (1/32)cos(6X) 

cos 6X = 5/16 + (15/32)cos(2X) + (6/32)cos(4X) + (1/32)cos(6X)

18. Trigonometric Functions Periodicity

sin (X + 2Pi) = sin X , period 2Pi 

cos (X + 2Pi) = cos X , period 2Pi 

sec (X + 2Pi) = sec X , period 2Pi 

csc (X + 2Pi) = csc X , period 2Pi 

tan (X + Pi) = tan X , period Pi 

cot (X + Pi) = cot X , period Pi

   

Trigonometry Trigonometry Page 1

Trigonometric Identities Co-Function Identities

Pythagorean Identities Negative Identities
Sum/Difference Formulas Power Reducing
Rules of Sign Sum To Product
Reduction Formulae Product To Sum
Half Angle Other Trigonometry Identities
Double Angle
 
 Top

Trigonometric Identities:

     

Top

Pythagorean Identities:

 
 Top

Sum / Difference Formulas

Top

Rules of Sign

Quadrant sin cos tan

  cosec sec cot
       
I + + +
II + - -
III - - +
IV - + -

Top

Reduction Formulae

Angle/Function sin cos tan

-θ -sin θ cos θ -tan θ
90°- θ cos θ sin θ cot θ
90°+ θ cos θ -sin θ -cot θ
180°- θ sin θ -cos θ -tan θ
180°+ θ -sin θ -cos θ tan θ
270°+ θ -cos θ -sin θ cot θ
270°+ θ -cos θ sin θ -cot θ
360°+ θ -sin θ  cos θ -tan θ

Top

Half Angle
 Top

Double Angle

Top

Co-function Identities

Top

Negative Angle Identities

 Top

Power Reducing

Top

Sum To Product

Top

Product To Sum
 Top

Other Trigonometry Identities

  

Trigonometric Tables

Below are trigonometric tables of all 6 trigonometric functions,

with angles in degrees and radians. Copies of these tables can be
downloaded.
Properties of Trigonometric Functions
The properties of the 6 trigonometric functions: sin (x), cos
(x), tan(x), cot (x), sec (x) and csc (x)are discussed. These include the
graph, domain, range, asymptotes (if any), symmetry, x and y intercepts
and maximum and minimum points.

Sine Function : f(x) = sin (x)

 Graph

 Domain: all real numbers

 Range: [-1 , 1]
 Period = 2pi
 x intercepts: x = k pi , where k is an integer.
 y intercepts: y = 0
 maximum points: (pi/2 + 2 k pi , 1) , where k is an integer.
 minimum points: (3pi/2 + 2 k pi , -1) , where k is an integer.
 symmetry: since sin(-x) = - sin (x) then sin (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect to the origon (0 , 0).
 intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
2pi, sin (x) is increasing on the intervals (0 , pi/2) and (3pi/2 , 2pi),
and decreasing on the interval (pi/2 , 3pi/2).

Cosine Function : f(x) = cos (x)

 Graph
  Domain: all real numbers
 Range: [-1 , 1]
 Period = 2pi
 x intercepts: x = pi/2 + k pi , where k is an integer.
 y intercepts: y = 1
 maximum points: (2 k pi , 1) , where k is an integer.
 minimum points: (pi + 2 k pi , -1) , where k is an integer.
 symmetry: since cos(-x) = cos (x) then cos (x) is an even function
and its graph is symmetric with respect to the y axis.
 intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
2pi, cos (x) is decreasing on (0 , pi) increasing on (pi , 2pi).

Tangent Function : f(x) = tan (x)

 Graph
  Domain: all real numbers except pi/2 + k pi, k is an integer.
 Range: all real numbers
 Period = pi
 x intercepts: x = k pi , where k is an integer.
 y intercepts: y = 0
 symmetry: since tan(-x) = - tan(x) then tan (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect the origin.
 intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from -pi/2
to pi/2, tan (x) is increasing.
 Vertical asymptotes: x = pi/2 + k pi, where k is an integer.

Cotangent Function : f(x) = cot (x)

 Graph

 Domain: all real numbers except k pi, k is an integer.

 Range: all real numbers
 Period = pi
 x intercepts: x = pi /2 + k pi , where k is an integer.
 symmetry: since cot(-x) = - cot(x) then cot (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect the origin.
 intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
pi, cot (x) is decreasing.
 Vertical asymptotes: x = k pi, where k is an integer.
Secant Function : f(x) = sec (x)
 Graph

 Domain: all real numbers except pi/2 + k pi, n is an integer.

 Range: (-infinity , -1] U [1 , +infinity)
 Period = 2 pi
 y intercepts: y = 1
 symmetry: since sec(-x) = sec (x) then sec (x) is an even function
and its graph is symmetric with respect to the y axis.
 intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to 2
pi, sec (x) is increasing on (0 , pi/2) U (pi/2 , pi) and decreasing on
(pi , 3pi/2) U (3pi/2 , 2pi).
 Vertical asymptotes: x = pi/2 + k pi, where k is an integer.

Cosecant Function : f(x) = csc (x)

 Graph
  Domain: all real numbers except k pi, k is an integer.
 Range: (-infinity , -1] U [1 , +infinity)
 Period = 2pi
 symmetry: since csc(-x) = - csc(x) then csc (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect the origin.
 intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
2pi, csc (x) is decreasing on (0 , pi/2) U (3pi/2 , 2pi) and
increasing on (pi/2 , pi) U (pi / 3pi/2).
 Vertical asymptotes: x = k pi, where k is an integer.

The properties of the 6 trigonometric functions: sin (x), cos

(x), tan(x), cot (x), sec (x) and csc (x)are discussed. These include the
graph, domain, range, asymptotes (if any), symmetry, x and y intercepts
and maximum and minimum points.

Sine Function : f(x) = sin (x)

 Graph
  Domain: all real numbers
 Range: [-1 , 1]
 Period = 2pi
 x intercepts: x = k pi , where k is an integer.
 y intercepts: y = 0
 maximum points: (pi/2 + 2 k pi , 1) , where k is an integer.
 minimum points: (3pi/2 + 2 k pi , -1) , where k is an integer.
 symmetry: since sin(-x) = - sin (x) then sin (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect to the origon (0 , 0).
 intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
2pi, sin (x) is increasing on the intervals (0 , pi/2) and (3pi/2 , 2pi),
and decreasing on the interval (pi/2 , 3pi/2).

Cosine Function : f(x) = cos (x)

 Graph

 Domain: all real numbers

 Range: [-1 , 1]
 Period = 2pi
  x intercepts: x = pi/2 + k pi , where k is an integer.
 y intercepts: y = 1
 maximum points: (2 k pi , 1) , where k is an integer.
 minimum points: (pi + 2 k pi , -1) , where k is an integer.
 symmetry: since cos(-x) = cos (x) then cos (x) is an even function
and its graph is symmetric with respect to the y axis.
 intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
2pi, cos (x) is decreasing on (0 , pi) increasing on (pi , 2pi).

Tangent Function : f(x) = tan (x)

 Graph

 Domain: all real numbers except pi/2 + k pi, k is an integer.

 Range: all real numbers
 Period = pi
 x intercepts: x = k pi , where k is an integer.
 y intercepts: y = 0
 symmetry: since tan(-x) = - tan(x) then tan (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect the origin.
 intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from -pi/2
to pi/2, tan (x) is increasing.
 Vertical asymptotes: x = pi/2 + k pi, where k is an integer.

Cotangent Function : f(x) = cot (x)

  Graph

 Domain: all real numbers except k pi, k is an integer.

 Range: all real numbers
 Period = pi
 x intercepts: x = pi /2 + k pi , where k is an integer.
 symmetry: since cot(-x) = - cot(x) then cot (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect the origin.
 intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
pi, cot (x) is decreasing.
 Vertical asymptotes: x = k pi, where k is an integer.

Secant Function : f(x) = sec (x)

 Graph
  Domain: all real numbers except pi/2 + k pi, n is an integer.
 Range: (-infinity , -1] U [1 , +infinity)
 Period = 2 pi
 y intercepts: y = 1
 symmetry: since sec(-x) = sec (x) then sec (x) is an even function
and its graph is symmetric with respect to the y axis.
 intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to 2
pi, sec (x) is increasing on (0 , pi/2) U (pi/2 , pi) and decreasing on
(pi , 3pi/2) U (3pi/2 , 2pi).
 Vertical asymptotes: x = pi/2 + k pi, where k is an integer.

Cosecant Function : f(x) = csc (x)

 Graph
 Domain: all real numbers except k pi, k is an integer.
 Range: (-infinity , -1] U [1 , +infinity)
 Period = 2pi
 symmetry: since csc(-x) = - csc(x) then csc (x) is an odd function
and its graph is symmetric with respect the origin.
 intervals of increase/decrease: over one period and from 0 to
2pi, csc (x) is decreasing on (0 , pi/2) U (3pi/2 , 2pi) and
increasing on (pi/2 , pi) U (pi / 3pi/2).
 Vertical asymptotes: x = k pi, where k is an integer.