Module 6: Fundamental Identities
Objectives: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to
Learn the fundamental identities,
Use the fundamental identities to solve trigonometric functions.
Enabling Activity:
1. In a long bond paper, make a list of all the formulas discussed in this lesson. It should be
handwritten.
Discussion:
Reciprocal Identities
sin 𝜃 = 1/(csc 𝜃) csc 𝜃 = 1/(sin 𝜃)
cos 𝜃 = 1/(sec 𝜃) sec 𝜃 = 1/(cos 𝜃)
tan 𝜃 = 1/(cot 𝜃) cot 𝜃 = 1/(tan 𝜃)
Quotient Identities
tan 𝜃 = (sin 𝜃)/(cos 𝜃) cot 𝜃 = (cos 𝜃)/(sin 𝜃)
Pythagorean Identities
sin²𝜃 + cos²𝜃 = 1
1+ tan²𝜃 = sec²𝜃
1+ cot²𝜃 = csc²𝜃
Negative Angle Identities
sin(−𝜃) = −sin 𝜃 cos(−𝜃) = cos 𝜃 tan(−𝜃) = −tan 𝜃
csc(−𝜃) = −csc 𝜃 sec(−𝜃) = sec 𝜃 cot(−𝜃) = −cot 𝜃
Complementary Angle Theorem
If two acute angles add up to be 90°, they are considered complimentary.
The following are considered cofunctions:
1. sine and cosine
2. tangent and cotangent
3. secant and cosecant
The complementary angle theorem says that cofunctions of complimentary angles are equal.
Example: sin 54° = cos 36°
How can we use these identities to find exact values of trigonometric functions?
Example 1
Find the exact value of the expression
sin² 30° + cos² 30°
Solution:
Since sin² 𝜃 + cos² 𝜃 = 1, therefore, sin² 30° + cos² 30° = 1.
Example 2
Find the exact value of the expression
𝑠𝑖𝑛 45°
𝑡𝑎𝑛 45° −
𝑐𝑜𝑠 45°
Solution:
𝑠𝑖𝑛 45°
Since 𝑡𝑎𝑛 45° = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 45°, therefore, tan 45° − tan 45° = 0.
Example 3
tan 35° ⋅ cos 35° ⋅ csc 35°
Solution:
𝑠𝑖𝑛 35° 𝑐𝑜𝑠 35° 1
∙ ∙ =1
𝑐𝑜𝑠 35° 1 𝑠𝑖𝑛 35°
Example 4
tan 22° − cot 68°
Solution:
tan 22° = cot 68°, therefore cot 68° − cot 68° = 0
Example 5
cot 𝜃 = −2/3, find csc 𝜃, where 𝜃 is in quadrant II
Solution:
Pick an identity that relates cotangent to cosecant, like the Pythagorean identity
1 + cot² = csc² .
−2 2
1+( ) = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝜃
3
4
1+ = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝜃
9
13
= 𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝜃
9
13
√ = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝜃
9
√13
= 𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝜃
3
The positive square root is chosen because csc is positive in quadrant II
Example 6
Prove the following identity is true
cot ⋅ sin ∙ cos = cos²
Solution:
𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ sin θ cos θ
∙ ∙ = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2θ
sin θ 1 1
Main Task:
Direction: Find the exact value of the following.
1. cos²30 + cos²60
2. cot 45 – tan 45
3. sin² 53 + cos² 53
4. cot 20 ∙ tan 20
Direction: Use the given information to find the exact value of the following.
1 √3
1. sin 𝜃 = 2, cos 𝜃 = , where 𝜃 is in quadrant 1. Find tan 𝜃.
2
4
2. tan 𝜃 = − 5 , where 𝜃 is in quadrant 4. Find sec 𝜃.
Reinforcement:
Direction: Verify the following identities.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.