Verifying Trigonometric Identities

Objective: To verify that two expressions are equivalent. That is, we want to verify that what we have is an identity.
To do this, we generally pick the expression on one side of the given identity and manipulate that expression until we get the other side.
In most cases, it is best to start with the more complex looking side and try to simply to match the less complex side.
You must be very familiar with the fundamental trigonometric identities, especially the Pythagorean Identities. In some cases, a direct
substitution using these fundamental identities will verify the identity you are trying to prove (Exercise 8 at the end of this document is one
example).
Some special approaches are useful for certain types of identities, which are provided below.
Identity Type Verification Approach
Verify:
Type 1: Start with more complex
+ = ( + ) RHS.
Sometimes it is easier if we Rewrite csc in terms of
just rewrite everything in sine or cosine.
terms of sine and cosine to 1
RHS ( + ) = (cos + sin ) Remember,
see if the expression sin
simplifies. csc = 1/sin
cos sin
= + Also note,
sin sin
cos /sin = cot
= + The RHS simplifies to
original LHS.

Verify:
Type 2: Start with the more
complex LHS.
=
In some cases, the more Rewrite the LHS as
complex side involves a difference of two fractions.
fraction that can be split
up. Then we rewrite tan cot Split out tan and cot to
LHS = make it easier to simplify.
everything in terms of sine sin cos sin cos
and cosine. 1 1 Notice in the first term, the
= tan cot sin cancels out; and in the
sin cos sin cos
second term, cos cancels
sin 1 cos 1 out.
=
cos sin cos sin sin cos The new terms are
1 1 reciprocal identities
=
cos sin2
2 The LHS simplifies to the
original RHS.
=
 Verifying Trigonometric Identities

Identity Type Verification Approach

Verify:
Type 3: We could start with either
+ side; but here we will start
Using the property of =
with the RHS.
conjugates is sometimes The conjugate of the
helpful. For an expression numerator 1 + sin is
like + , the conjugate + 1 + sin 1 sin
RHS = 1 sin .
would be . When you cos 1 sin
multiply conjugates, you Multiply by
1 sin2 1 sin
often get a more useful = =1
expression, e.g., cos (1 sin ) 1 sin
( + )( ). Sometimes Remember,
cos2
multiplying by the = 1 sin2 = cos2
conjugate will simplify an cos (1 sin )
Once we reduce the
expression and help in cos cos fraction, we get the LHS of
verifying the given identity. =
cos (1 sin ) the original identity.

=

Verify:
Type 4: Notice that the
denominators of the
Combining fractions before + =
+ fractions on the LHS are
using identities may be an conjugates.
appropriate strategy. So we will use the property
1 1 + sin 1 1 sin
LHS + = + of conjugates to combine
+ 1 sin 1 + sin 1 + sin 1 sin the LHS fractions and
(1 + sin ) + (1 sin ) simplify.
=
(1 sin )(1 + sin )
2
=
1 sin2
2
=
cos2
=
 Verifying Trigonometric Identities

Verify the following trigonometric identities.

1. cos x + sin x tan x = sec x

csc x sin x
2. = csc x sin x
sin x csc x

1 sec 2
3. + tan =
tan tan

1 + sin cos
4. + = 2 sec
cos 1 + sin

cos y
5. sec y + tan y =
1 sin y

cos 2 x sin 2 x
6. 2
= cos 2 x
1 tan x

sin x cos x 1
7. + =0
cos x + 1 sin x

sin 2 + cos 2 + cot 2

8. = cot 2
1 + tan 2
 Verifying Trigonometric Identities

Solutions to Exercises

sin x csc x sin x 1

1. LHS cos x + sin x tan x = cos x + sin x 2. LHS = (csc x sin x )
sin x csc x sin x csc x
cos x
sin 2 x 1 1
= cos x + = csc x sin x
cos x sin x csc x sin x csc x
cos x sin 2 x
2
1 1
= + =
cos x cos x sin x csc x
cos 2 x + sin 2 x = csc x sin x
=
cos x
1
=
cos x
= sec x
1 1 tan 2 1 + sin cos 1 + sin 1 + sin cos cos
3. LHS + tan = + 4. LHS + = +
tan tan tan cos 1 + sin cos 1 + sin 1 + sin cos

1 + tan 2 =
(1 + sin ) + cos 2
2

= cos (1 + sin )
tan
1 + 2 sin + sin 2 + cos 2
sec 2 =
= cos (1 + sin )
tan
1 + 2 sin + 1
=
cos (1 + sin )
2 + 2 sin
=
cos (1 + sin )
2(1 + sin )
=
cos (1 + sin )
2
=
cos
= 2 sec
 Verifying Trigonometric Identities

cos y cos y 1 + sin y cos 2 x sin 2 x cos 2 x sin 2 x

5. RHS = 6. LHS =
1 sin y 1 sin y 1 + sin y 1 tan 2 x sin 2 x
1
cos 2 x
cos y (1 + sin y )
=
1 sin 2 y cos 2 x sin 2 x
=
cos 2 x sin 2 x
cos y (1 + sin y )
= cos 2 x
cos 2 y
cos 2 x
=
1 + sin y ( 2

= cos x sin x 2

cos 2
x
)
sin 2
x

cos y

1 sin y = cos 2 x
= +
cos y cos y
= sec y + tan y

sin x cos x 1 sin x sin x cos x 1 cos x + 1 sin 2 + cos 2 + cot 2 1 + cot 2
7. LHS + = + 8. LHS =
cos x + 1 sin x cos x + 1 sin x sin x cos x + 1 1 + tan 2 1 + tan 2
sin 2 x cos 2 x 1 csc 2
= + =
sin x(cos x + 1) sin x(cos x + 1) sec 2
1
sin 2 x + cos 2 x 1
= sin 2
sin x(cos x + 1) =
1
11 cos 2
=
sin x(cos x + 1) 1 cos 2
=
sin 1
2
0
=
sin x(cos x + 1) cos 2
=
=0 sin 2
= cot 2