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Verification of trigonometric identities

Fundamental Reciprocal identities
Ratio identities tanx =

sinx
;
cosx

1
;
cscx
cosx
cotx =
sinx
sinx =

Pythagorean identities sin2 x + cos2 x = 1;

.

1
;
secx

tanx =

1 + cot2 x = sec2 x;

1. Change to sines and cosins to verify an Identity

sinx cotx secx = 1
2. Use pythagorean identity to verify an indentity
1 2sin2 x = 2cos2 x 1
3. Factor to verify an indentity
csc2 x cos2 x csc2 x = 1

cosx =

1
cotx

tan2 x + 1 = csc2 x

4. Multiply by a conjugate to verify an identity

sinx
1 cosx
=
1 + cosx
sinx
5. Change to sines and cosines to verify an indentity
sinx + tanx
= tanx
1 + cosx

Exercises
1. tanx cscx cosx = 1 (1)
2. tanx secx sinx = tan2 x (1)
3.

4.

4sin2 x 1
= 2sinx 1 (3)
2sinx + 1
sin2 x 2sinx + 1
= sinx 1
sinx 1

5. (sinx cosx)(sinx + cosx) = 1 2cos2 x

6. (tanx)(1 cotx) = tanx 1
7.

1
cosx sinx
1

=
sinx cosx
sinx cosx

8.

1
1
cosx + 3sinx
+
=
sinx cosx
sinx cosx

9.

cosx
= secx + tanx
1 sinx

10.

sinx
= cscx + cotx
1 cosx

11.

1 tan4 x
= 1 tan2 x
sec2 x

12. sin4 x cos4 = sin2 x cos2 x

13.

1 tan3 x
= 1 tanx + tan2 x
1 + tanx

14.

cosx tanx sinx

=0
cotx
1
sinx = sinx 1
1
sinx + 1
sinx
sinx

sinx 2 +
15.