Trigonometry
Addition & Compound Angle Formulas
Complete Concept Notes with Proofs & Examples
1. Core Addition Formulas
These are the fundamental identities for the sum/difference of two angles:
sin(A + B) = sinA·cosB + cosA·sinB
sin(A - B) = sinA·cosB - cosA·sinB
cos(A + B) = cosA·cosB - sinA·sinB
cos(A - B) = cosA·cosB + sinA·sinB
tan(A + B) = (tanA + tanB) / (1 - tanA·tanB)
tan(A - B) = (tanA - tanB) / (1 + tanA·tanB)
Memory tip: For sin, the sign between terms matches the ± in the angle. For cos, the sign is opposite. tan formula:
same sign on top, opposite on bottom.
2. Important Derived Identities
Identity Result
sin(θ − 45°) (1/√2)(sinθ − cosθ)
sin(45° + θ) + cos(45° + θ) √2 cosθ
2sin(θ+45°)·sin(θ−45°) sin2θ − cos2θ
sin2(θ+45°) + sin2(45°−θ) 1
tan(45° − A) (cosA − sinA)/(cosA + sinA)
1/tanA − 1/tan2A cosec2A
3. Double Angle Formulas (from Addition)
Put B = A in the addition formulas:
sin2A = 2·sinA·cosA
cos2A = cos2A − sin2A = 1 − 2sin2A = 2cos2A − 1
tan2A = 2tanA / (1 − tan2A)
Key deduction: 2tan50° = tan70° − tan20° follows from tan70° − tan20° = tan(50°+20°) − tan(50°−20°) and the
addition formula.
4. Worked Examples
Example: Prove: (cos9° + sin9°)/(cos9° − sin9°) = tan54°
Divide numerator and denominator by cos9°:
= (1 + tan9°)/(1 − tan9°)
= (tan45° + tan9°)/(1 − tan45°·tan9°) [since tan45° = 1]
= tan(45° + 9°) [by addition formula]
= tan54° ✓
Answer: Proved using tan addition formula.
Example: Prove: (sin20° + cos20°)/(sin20° − cos20°) = cot155°
Divide by cos20°: = (tan20° + 1)/(tan20° − 1)
= −(1 + tan20°)/(1 − tan20°) = −tan(45° + 20°)
= −tan65° = tan(180° − 65°) = tan115°
Note: cot155° = cot(180°−25°) = −cot25° and also tan115° = −tan65° = −cot25° ✓
Answer: Use division trick + addition formula + allied angle.
Example: If tanθ = 5/6 and tanφ = 1/11, show θ + φ = π/4
tan(θ + φ) = (tanθ + tanφ)/(1 − tanθ·tanφ)
= (5/6 + 1/11)/(1 − 5/6 · 1/11)
= (55/66 + 6/66)/(1 − 5/66)
= (61/66)/(61/66) = 1
Since tan(θ+φ) = 1 and θ+φ is acute → θ+φ = π/4 ✓
Answer: tan(θ+φ) = 1 ■ θ+φ = π/4
Example: If cosθ = 1/3 and cosφ = 7/(5√2), prove θ + φ = π/4
sinθ = √(1 − 1/9) = (2√2)/3, sinφ = √(1 − 49/50) = 1/(5√2)
cos(θ+φ) = cosθcosφ − sinθsinφ
= (1/3)·(7/5√2) − (2√2/3)·(1/5√2)
= 7/(15√2) − 2/(15) [simplify 2√2/(3·5√2) = 2/15]
= 7/(15√2) − 2√2/(15√2) · √2 … = (7−4)/(15√2) · 1 = 3/(15√2) = 1/√(2)
cos(θ+φ) = 1/√2 → θ+φ = π/4 ✓
Answer: Direct use of cos(A+B) formula.
5. Problem-Solving Strategy Guide
Divide by cosine When you see (sinA ± cosA)/(sinA ■ cosA) — divide top & bottom
by cosA to get tan, then apply addition formula.
Check for tan45° = 1 Whenever you have (1 ± tanA), replace 1 with tan45° and use
addition formula.
Allied angles tan(180°+x)=tanx; tan(180°−x)=−tanx; cot(180°−x)=−cotx. Useful
for matching LHS = RHS.
Prove = 1 trick To show θ+φ = π/4, compute tan(θ+φ). If it equals 1, job done.
Sum-to-product 2sinX·cosY = sin(X+Y) + sin(X−Y). Useful for products of trig
functions.
Symmetry sin²(45+θ) + sin²(45−θ) = 1 because the two angles are
complementary.
6. Quick Self-Test Questions
Q1. Prove: cos35°·sin35° + cos35°·sin35° = tan10° (Hint: cos35°−sin35° form)
Q2. Prove: 2tan20° = tan55° − tan35°
Q3. If tanα = m/(m+1) and tanβ = 1/(2m+1), show α+β = π/4
Q4. Prove: sin(x+2θ)·cos(x+θ) − cos(x+2θ)·sin(x+θ) = sinθ
Q5. Prove: 50θ·cos30 + cos50θ·sin30 = sin90θ·cos0 − cos90θ·sin0 (simplify both sides)
Q6. Find sin(α−β) given sinα = 3/5, cosβ = 12/13 with α, β in first quadrant.
Concept Notes — Trigonometry | Addition Formulas