Worksheet ________________________________Name:________________

So far, we have restricted our attention mostly to algebraic functions. In this section, we
shall apply the methods of differential calculus to trigonometric functions (sine, cosine,
tangent, cosecant, secant, and cotangent).

Derivative of SINE and COSINE

If f (x) = sin x, then we have,

f ( x  h)  f ( x) = sin( x  h)  sin x
= sin x cos h  cos x sin h sin x

= sin x(cos h  1)  cos x sin h

f ( x  h)  f ( x ) sin x(cos h  1)  cos x sin h

f (x) = lim = lim
h 0 h h 0 h

   
 cos h  1   sin h 
= lim sin x  + lim cos x 
h 0
 h  h 0  h 
   

   
 cos h  1   sin h 

f (x) = lim sin x lim   + lim cos x lim  h 
h 0 h 0
 h  h 0 h 0
 
   

Since x is regarded as a constant, we have, lim sin x = sin x and lim cos x = cos x .
h 0 h 0
Now, must now determine the limits of the two expressions in parentheses as h tends to
zero, that is,

   
 cos h  1   sin h 
  and  h 
 h   
   

We can use geometric argument to find the limits of these two expressions. Let’s now
consider the figure below.

©2005 Michael Aryee(aryeemic@shu.edu) Derivatives of trig functions Page 1

The figure above shows a sector of a circle with center O, central angle h, and radius 1.
Assume that h lies between lies between 0 and /2 radians. P' Q is a line drawn
perpendicular to OP. By definition of a radian measure, the arc PQ = h. Note that to find
the length of an arc, we multiple the radian measure of the angle subtended by the arc by
the radius of the circle. Since the angle is h and the radius is 1, the length of the arc PQ =
h.

It is clear that the line segment P' Q (= sin h) has a length smaller than the arc PQ = h.

sin h
That is, sin h < h and dividing both sides by h we have < 1.
h

Similarly, the line segment P' Q (= sin h) has a length greater than the arc P ' Q ' . Since
the arc P ' Q ' is subtended by an angle h radians on a circle with radius cos h, the length of
P ' Q ' = h cos h. Thus, sin h is greater than h cos h.

sin h
That is, sin h > h cos h and dividing both sides by h we have > cos h
h

sin h
This means that lies between cos h and 1.
h
sin h
cos h < < 1.
h

sin h sin h
Since we are interested in as h  0 , and since is sandwiched between cos h
h h
and 1, we can use the Squeeze Theorem (also called the Sandwich Theorem) to find the
limit.

©2005 Michael Aryee(aryeemic@shu.edu) Derivatives of trig functions Page 2

 The squeeze Theorem

If f ( x)  g ( x)  h( x) where x is near c, and if lim f (x) = L and lim h(x) = L,

x c x c

then, lim g (x) = L.

x c

sin h
Since cos h < < 1,
h

f (x) = f (h) = cos h, so that lim f (h) = lim cos h = 1.

h 0 h 0
and

h(x) = h(h) = 1, so that lim g (h) = lim 1 = 1.

h 0 h 0

sin h sin h
Therefore, g (x) = g (h) = , and lim g (h) = lim = 1.
h h 0 h 0 h

cos h  1
We now have to find the limit of as h  0 .
h

  
cos h  1  cos h  1  cos h  1  cos 2 h  1
Note that =   =
 h  cos h  1  h(cos h  1)
h   
  
 sin 2 h  sin h   sin h 
= =  
h(cos h  1)  h  cos h  1 

cos h  1  sin h  0 
= (1)   = 0.
sin h
Therefore lim = lim lim
h 0 h h  0 h  0  
h (cos h  1)  0 1

©2005 Michael Aryee(aryeemic@shu.edu) Derivatives of trig functions Page 3

Thus, we have

sin h
1. lim = 1.
h 0 h

cos h  1
2. lim = 0.
h 0 h

So that if f (x) = sin x, then

   
 cos h  1   sin h 
f (x) = lim sin x lim   + lim cos x lim  h 
h 0 h 0
 h  h 0 h 0
 
   

= (sin x)  (0)  (cos x)(1)  cos x

In general,
if f (x) = sin x,

then f (x) = cos x.

The differentiation formulas for the six trigonometric functions are given in the following
tables. The angle x is measured in radians.

Function Derivative
sin x cos x

cos x -sin x

tan x sec2 x

csc x -csc x cot x

sec x sec x tan x

cot x -csc2 x

©2005 Michael Aryee(aryeemic@shu.edu) Derivatives of trig functions Page 4

 Problems
1. Find the derivative for each of the following functions.
a) fx )  sin( x)  x b) f ( x)  x  3 sin x

1  sin x
c) f (t )  t 3 cos(t ) d) f ( x) 
x  cos x

e) f ( x)  tan( x) x f) f ( )   csc  cot 

g) f ( x)  sec x tan x h) f ( x)  x 2 sec x

x 2 cos( x)
i) f ( x)  x csc x j) f ( x) 
1  2 x 

sec sin x
l) f ( )  m) f ( x) 
1  sec x2

©2005 Michael Aryee(aryeemic@shu.edu) Derivatives of trig functions Page 5

2. Find the equation of the tangent line to the function at the given point:
a) f ( x)  tan x , at ( / 4,1)

b) f ( x)  x  cos x , at (0,1)

1
c) f ( x)  , at (0,1)
sin x  cos x

3. Find each of the following limits:

sin 3x sin 2 3x
a) lim b) lim
x 0 x x0 x2

sin 4 x sin t
c) lim d) lim
x 0 sin 6 x t 0 1  cos(t )

cot 2 x 1
e) lim f) lim x sin
x 0 csc x x 0 x

©2005 Michael Aryee(aryeemic@shu.edu) Derivatives of trig functions Page 6

4. Find the derivative for each of the following functions.
a) fx )  (1  cos 2 x) 6 b) f ( x)  tan(cos x)

sin 2 x
c) f (t )  sec 2 t  tan 2 t d) f ( x) 
cos x

e) f ( x)  sin 1  x 2 f) f ( x)  4 sec 5x

g) f ( x)  sin x h) f ( x)  x 3 cos nx

i) f ( x)  sin( x cos x) j) f ( x)  cot(x / 2)

sin 2 x
k) f ( )  tan(cos ) l) f ( x) 
x2

©2005 Michael Aryee(aryeemic@shu.edu) Derivatives of trig functions Page 7