Trigonometric Identities

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Pre-Calculus › Trigonometric Identities

Questions 1 - 10

Find $\sin\bigg(\frac{\pi }{3} + \frac{\pi }{6}\bigg)$ using the sum identity.

$\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$

$\frac{\pi }{2}$

Explanation

Using the sum formula for sine,

$\sin(a+b)=\sin(a)\cos(b)+\cos(a)\sin(b)$

where,

$a=\frac{\pi}{3}$ , $b=\frac{\pi}{6}$

yeilds:

$\sin \bigg(\frac{\pi}{3}+\sin\frac{\pi}{6}\bigg)=\sin\bigg(\frac{\pi }{3}\bigg)\cdot\cos\bigg(\frac{\pi }{6}\bigg) +\cos \bigg(\frac{\pi}{3}\bigg)\cdot\sin\bigg(\frac{\pi }{6}\bigg)$

$=\frac{\sqrt{3}}2{}\cdot\frac{\sqrt{3}}2{}+\frac{1}{2}\cdot\frac{1}{2}$

$=\frac{3}{4}+\frac{1}{4}=1$ .

Evaluate

$\sin \left(\frac{5 \pi}{12}\right)$ .

$\frac{1+\sqrt3}{2 \sqrt 2 }$

$\frac{-1+\sqrt3}{2 \sqrt 2 }$

$\frac{1}{\sqrt 2 }$

$\sqrt{\frac{3}{2}}$

$\frac{-1 - \sqrt 3 }{\sqrt 2 }$

Explanation

$\frac{5 \pi }{12}$ is equivalent to $\frac{2 \pi }{12 } + \frac{3 \pi }{12 }$ or more simplified $\frac{\pi}{6 } + \frac{\pi }{4}$ .

We can use the sum identity to evaluate this sine:

$\sin \left(\frac{\pi }{6} + \frac{\pi }{4 } \right) = \sin\left (\frac{\pi }{6} \right) \cos \left(\frac { \pi }{4} \right) + \cos \left(\frac{\pi }{6}\right) \sin \left( \frac{ \pi }{4} \right)$

From the unit circle, we can determine these measures:

$\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{\sqrt 2 } + \frac{ \sqrt 3 }{2} \cdot \frac{1}{ \sqrt 2 } = \frac{1}{2 \sqrt 2 }+ \frac{\sqrt 3 }{2 \sqrt 2 } = \frac{ 1 + \sqrt 3 }{ 2 \sqrt 2 }$

Evaluate

$\sin \left(\frac{5 \pi}{12}\right)$ .

$\frac{1+\sqrt3}{2 \sqrt 2 }$

$\frac{-1+\sqrt3}{2 \sqrt 2 }$

$\frac{1}{\sqrt 2 }$

$\sqrt{\frac{3}{2}}$

$\frac{-1 - \sqrt 3 }{\sqrt 2 }$

Explanation

$\frac{5 \pi }{12}$ is equivalent to $\frac{2 \pi }{12 } + \frac{3 \pi }{12 }$ or more simplified $\frac{\pi}{6 } + \frac{\pi }{4}$ .

We can use the sum identity to evaluate this sine:

$\sin \left(\frac{\pi }{6} + \frac{\pi }{4 } \right) = \sin\left (\frac{\pi }{6} \right) \cos \left(\frac { \pi }{4} \right) + \cos \left(\frac{\pi }{6}\right) \sin \left( \frac{ \pi }{4} \right)$

From the unit circle, we can determine these measures:

$\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{\sqrt 2 } + \frac{ \sqrt 3 }{2} \cdot \frac{1}{ \sqrt 2 } = \frac{1}{2 \sqrt 2 }+ \frac{\sqrt 3 }{2 \sqrt 2 } = \frac{ 1 + \sqrt 3 }{ 2 \sqrt 2 }$

Find the value of .

$\frac{\sqrt2}{2}$

$\sqrt2$

$\frac{\sqrt6+\sqrt2}{2}$

$\sqrt6+\sqrt2$

Explanation

To solve , we will need to use both the sum and difference identities for cosine.

Write the formula for these identities.

$cos(A\pm B)= cos(A)cos(B)\pm sin(A)sin(B)$

To solve for and , find two special angles whose difference and sum equals to the angle 15 and 75, respectively. The two special angles are 45 and 30.

Substitute the special angles in the formula.

$cos(45\pm 30)= cos(45)cos(30)\pm sin(45)sin(30)$

Evaluate both conditions.

$=\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\left(\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)+\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)=\frac{\sqrt6}{4}+\frac{\sqrt2}{4}$

$=\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\left(\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)-\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)=\frac{\sqrt6}{4}-\frac{\sqrt2}{4}$

Solve for .

$=\frac{\sqrt6}{4}+\frac{\sqrt2}{4}-\left[\frac{\sqrt6}{4}-\frac{\sqrt2}{4}\right]$

$=\frac{\sqrt6}{4}+\frac{\sqrt2}{4}-\frac{\sqrt6}{4}+\frac{\sqrt2}{4}$

$= \frac{2\sqrt2}{4}$

$= \frac{\sqrt2}{2}$

Find the value of .

$\frac{\sqrt2}{2}$

$\sqrt2$

$\frac{\sqrt6+\sqrt2}{2}$

$\sqrt6+\sqrt2$

Explanation

To solve , we will need to use both the sum and difference identities for cosine.

Write the formula for these identities.

$cos(A\pm B)= cos(A)cos(B)\pm sin(A)sin(B)$

To solve for and , find two special angles whose difference and sum equals to the angle 15 and 75, respectively. The two special angles are 45 and 30.

Substitute the special angles in the formula.

$cos(45\pm 30)= cos(45)cos(30)\pm sin(45)sin(30)$

Evaluate both conditions.

$=\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\left(\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)+\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)=\frac{\sqrt6}{4}+\frac{\sqrt2}{4}$

$=\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\left(\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)-\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)=\frac{\sqrt6}{4}-\frac{\sqrt2}{4}$

Solve for .

$=\frac{\sqrt6}{4}+\frac{\sqrt2}{4}-\left[\frac{\sqrt6}{4}-\frac{\sqrt2}{4}\right]$

$=\frac{\sqrt6}{4}+\frac{\sqrt2}{4}-\frac{\sqrt6}{4}+\frac{\sqrt2}{4}$

$= \frac{2\sqrt2}{4}$

$= \frac{\sqrt2}{2}$

Find the value of .

$\frac{\sqrt2}{2}$

$\sqrt2$

$\frac{\sqrt6+\sqrt2}{2}$

$\sqrt6+\sqrt2$

Explanation

To solve , we will need to use both the sum and difference identities for cosine.

Write the formula for these identities.

$cos(A\pm B)= cos(A)cos(B)\pm sin(A)sin(B)$

To solve for and , find two special angles whose difference and sum equals to the angle 15 and 75, respectively. The two special angles are 45 and 30.

Substitute the special angles in the formula.

$cos(45\pm 30)= cos(45)cos(30)\pm sin(45)sin(30)$

Evaluate both conditions.

$=\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\left(\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)+\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)=\frac{\sqrt6}{4}+\frac{\sqrt2}{4}$

$=\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\left(\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)-\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)=\frac{\sqrt6}{4}-\frac{\sqrt2}{4}$

Solve for .

$=\frac{\sqrt6}{4}+\frac{\sqrt2}{4}-\left[\frac{\sqrt6}{4}-\frac{\sqrt2}{4}\right]$

$=\frac{\sqrt6}{4}+\frac{\sqrt2}{4}-\frac{\sqrt6}{4}+\frac{\sqrt2}{4}$

$= \frac{2\sqrt2}{4}$

$= \frac{\sqrt2}{2}$

Evaluate

$\sin \left(\frac{5 \pi}{12}\right)$ .

$\frac{1+\sqrt3}{2 \sqrt 2 }$

$\frac{-1+\sqrt3}{2 \sqrt 2 }$

$\frac{1}{\sqrt 2 }$

$\sqrt{\frac{3}{2}}$

$\frac{-1 - \sqrt 3 }{\sqrt 2 }$

Explanation

$\frac{5 \pi }{12}$ is equivalent to $\frac{2 \pi }{12 } + \frac{3 \pi }{12 }$ or more simplified $\frac{\pi}{6 } + \frac{\pi }{4}$ .

We can use the sum identity to evaluate this sine:

$\sin \left(\frac{\pi }{6} + \frac{\pi }{4 } \right) = \sin\left (\frac{\pi }{6} \right) \cos \left(\frac { \pi }{4} \right) + \cos \left(\frac{\pi }{6}\right) \sin \left( \frac{ \pi }{4} \right)$

From the unit circle, we can determine these measures:

$\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{\sqrt 2 } + \frac{ \sqrt 3 }{2} \cdot \frac{1}{ \sqrt 2 } = \frac{1}{2 \sqrt 2 }+ \frac{\sqrt 3 }{2 \sqrt 2 } = \frac{ 1 + \sqrt 3 }{ 2 \sqrt 2 }$

Find $\sin\bigg(\frac{\pi }{3} + \frac{\pi }{6}\bigg)$ using the sum identity.

$\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$

$\frac{\pi }{2}$

Explanation

Using the sum formula for sine,

$\sin(a+b)=\sin(a)\cos(b)+\cos(a)\sin(b)$

where,

$a=\frac{\pi}{3}$ , $b=\frac{\pi}{6}$

yeilds:

$\sin \bigg(\frac{\pi}{3}+\sin\frac{\pi}{6}\bigg)=\sin\bigg(\frac{\pi }{3}\bigg)\cdot\cos\bigg(\frac{\pi }{6}\bigg) +\cos \bigg(\frac{\pi}{3}\bigg)\cdot\sin\bigg(\frac{\pi }{6}\bigg)$

$=\frac{\sqrt{3}}2{}\cdot\frac{\sqrt{3}}2{}+\frac{1}{2}\cdot\frac{1}{2}$

$=\frac{3}{4}+\frac{1}{4}=1$ .

Find $\sin\bigg(\frac{\pi }{3} + \frac{\pi }{6}\bigg)$ using the sum identity.

$\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$

$\frac{\pi }{2}$

Explanation

Using the sum formula for sine,

$\sin(a+b)=\sin(a)\cos(b)+\cos(a)\sin(b)$

where,

$a=\frac{\pi}{3}$ , $b=\frac{\pi}{6}$

yeilds:

$\sin \bigg(\frac{\pi}{3}+\sin\frac{\pi}{6}\bigg)=\sin\bigg(\frac{\pi }{3}\bigg)\cdot\cos\bigg(\frac{\pi }{6}\bigg) +\cos \bigg(\frac{\pi}{3}\bigg)\cdot\sin\bigg(\frac{\pi }{6}\bigg)$

$=\frac{\sqrt{3}}2{}\cdot\frac{\sqrt{3}}2{}+\frac{1}{2}\cdot\frac{1}{2}$

$=\frac{3}{4}+\frac{1}{4}=1$ .

In the problem below, $\sin \alpha = \frac {1}{5}, 0 < \alpha < \frac {\pi}{2}$ and $\cos \beta = \frac {1}{4}, 0 < \beta< \frac {\pi}{2}$ .

Find

$\sin (\alpha + \beta)$ .

$\frac {1+ 6\sqrt{10}}{20}$

$\frac {1- 6\sqrt{10}}{20}$

$\frac {\sqrt{6} - \sqrt{15}}{10}$

$\frac {2\sqrt{6} - \sqrt{15}}{20}$

$\frac {2\sqrt{6} + \sqrt{15}}{20}$

Explanation

Since $\sin \alpha = \frac {1}{5}$ and $\alpha$ is in quadrant I, we can say that and and therefore:

$x = \sqrt {r^2 - y^2} = \sqrt {25-1} = \sqrt {24} = 2 \sqrt {6}$ .

So $\cos \alpha = \frac {2\sqrt{6}}{5}$ .

Since $\cos \beta = \frac {1}{4}$ and $\beta$ is in quadrant I, we can say that and and therefore:

$y = \sqrt {r^2 - x^2} = \sqrt {16-1} = \sqrt {15}$ .

So $\sin \beta = \frac {\sqrt{15}}{4}$ .

Using the sine sum formula, we see:

$\ \sin (\alpha + \beta) = \sin \alpha \cos \beta + \cos \alpha \sin \beta \ \* = \frac {1}{5} \cdot \frac {1}{4} + \frac {2 \sqrt {6}}{5} \cdot \frac {\sqrt {15}}{4} = \frac {1 + 6 \sqrt {10}}{20}$

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