Created by T.

Madas

TRIGONOMETRY
THE COMPOUND ANGLE
IDENTITIES

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 1
Prove the validity of each of the following trigonometric identities.

 π   π
a) sin  x +  ≡ cos  x − 
 4   4

 π  π
b) cos  x +  + 3 sin  x +  ≡ 2 cos x
 3  3

 π  π
c) cos  2 x +  + cos  2 x −  ≡ cos 2 x
 3  3

sin ( x + y )
d) ≡ tan x + tan y
cos x cos y

 π   π 
e) tan  x +  tan  x −  ≡ −1
 4   4 

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 2
Prove the validity of each of the following trigonometric identities.

 π  π 
a) sin  x +  − 3 cos  x +  ≡ 2sin x
 3  3 

cos x sin x cos ( x + y )

b) − ≡
sin y cos y sin y cos y

tan 2 x − 3
c) tan ( x + 60° ) tan ( x − 60° ) ≡
1 − 3tan 2 x

d) sin ( x + y ) sin ( x − y ) ≡ cos 2 y − cos 2 x

cot x cot y − 1
e) cot ( x + y ) ≡
cot x + cot y

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 3
Prove the validity of each of the following trigonometric identities.

a) cos ( x + y ) cos ( x − y ) ≡ cos 2 x − sin 2 y

 P +Q   P −Q 
b) sin P − sin Q ≡ 2 cos   sin  
 2   2 

 π  π
c) sin 2  θ +  + sin 2  θ −  ≡ 1
 4  4

cos x
d) cos x + sin x tan 2 x ≡
cos 2 x

 P+Q  P −Q 
e) cos P + cos Q ≡ 2 cos   cos  
 2   2 

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 4
If sin (θ + α ) = 2sin θ , show clearly that

sin α
tan θ = .
2 − cos α

proof

Question 5
By expanding tan (θ + 45° ) with a suitable value for θ , show clearly that

tan 75° = 2 + 3 .

proof

Question 6
By expanding sin ( 45° − x ) with a suitable value for x , show clearly that

cosec15° = 2 + 6 .

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 7
By expanding tan (θ + 45° ) with a suitable value for θ , show clearly that

tan105° = −2 − 3 .

proof

Question 8
By expanding cos ( y + 45° ) with a suitable value for y , show clearly that

sec 75° = 2 + 6 .

proof

Question 9
By considering the expansion of tan ( A + B ) with suitable values for A and B , show
clearly that

cot 75° = 2 − 3 .

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 10
Show clearly, by using the compound angle identities, that

6− 2
sin15° = .
4

proof

Question 11
Show clearly, by using the compound angle identities, that

2− 6
cos105° = .
4

proof

Question 12
Show clearly, by using the compound angle identities, that

tan15° = 2 − 3 .

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 13

sin ( A + B ) ≡ sin A cos B + cos A sin B .

a) Use the above trigonometric identity with suitable values for A and B , to
show that

6+ 2
sin 75° = .
4

b) Hence by using the trigonometric expansion of cos ( 75° + α ) with a suitable

value for α , show clearly that

cos165° = − sin 75° .

proof

Question 14

12 4
sin A = and cos B = .
13 5

If A is obtuse and B is acute, show clearly that

33
sin ( A + B ) = .
65

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 15

8 5
sin θ = and cos ϕ = .
17 13

If θ is obtuse and ϕ is acute, show clearly that

171
cos (θ + ϕ ) = − .
221

proof

Question 16
The constants a and b are such so that

1 1
tan a = and tan b = .
3 7

Determine the exact value of cot ( a − b ) , showing all the steps in the workings.

cot ( a − b ) = 11
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 17

12 15
sin x = and cos y = .
13 17

If x is obtuse and y is acute, show clearly that

220
sin ( x − y ) = .
221

proof

Question 18

8 4
sin P = and tan Q = .
17 3

If P is obtuse and Q is reflex, show clearly that

13
cos ( P − Q ) = .
85

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 19

5 7
sin θ = and sin ϕ = − .
13 25

If θ is obtuse and ϕ is such so that 180° < ϕ < 270° , show clearly that

36
sin (θ + ϕ ) = − .
325

proof

Question 20

3 24
cos θ = − and tan ϕ = .
5 7

If θ is reflex, and ϕ is also reflex, show clearly that

44
sin (θ − ϕ ) = − .
125

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 21

24 15
sin θ = and cos ϕ = .
25 17

If θ is obtuse and ϕ is reflex, show clearly that

425
sec (θ + ϕ ) = .
87

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 22

3 5
cot A = − and cos B = .
4 13

If A is reflex and B is also reflex, show clearly that

56
tan ( A + B ) = .
33

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 23

1 1
sin A = and cos B = .
3 2

If A is obtuse and B is reflex, show clearly that

1− 2 6
sin ( A + B ) = .
6

proof

Question 24
The point A lies on the y axis above the origin O and the point B lies on the y axis
below the origin O .

The point C (12,0 ) is at a distance of 20 units from A and at a distance of 13 units

from B .

By considering the tangent ratios of ∡OCA and ∡OCB , show that the tangent of the
63
angle ACB is exactly .
16

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 25
Solve each of the following trigonometric equations.

a) cos (θ + 30° ) = sin θ , 0 ≤ θ < 360°

b) 3cos ( x + 30° ) = sin ( x − 60° ) , 0 ≤ x < 360°

c) sin ( y − 30° ) = sin ( y + 45° ) , 0 ≤ y < 360°

d) sin (ϕ + 30° ) = cos (ϕ − 45° ) , 0 ≤ ϕ < 360°

e) cos (α − 60° ) = cos (α − 45° ) , 0 ≤ α < 360°

θ = 30°, 210° , x = 60°, 240° , y = 82.5°, 262.5° , ϕ = 52.5°, 232.5° ,

α = 52.5°, 232.5°

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 26
Solve each of the following trigonometric equations.

a) sin (θ − 45° ) = sin θ , 0 ≤ θ < 360°

b) cos ( x − 30° ) = sin ( x + 30° ) , 0 ≤ x < 360°

c) cos ( y − 30° ) = sin ( y + 45° ) , 0 ≤ y < 360°

d) sin (ϕ − 30° ) = cos (ϕ − 45° ) , 0 ≤ ϕ < 360°

e) cos (α − 60° ) = cos (α + 60° ) , 0 ≤ α < 360°

θ = 112.5°, 292.5° , x = 45°, 225° , y = 37.5°, 217.5° , ϕ = 82.5°, 262.5° ,

α = 0°, 180°

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 27
Solve each of the following trigonometric equations.

 π
a) sin  θ +  = sin θ , 0 ≤ θ < 2π
 4

 π  2π 
b) cos  x +  = cos  x + , 0 ≤ θ < 2π
 6  3 

π   5π 
c) sin  − y  = cos  y + , 0 ≤ y < 2π (very hard)
3   6 

 π  π
d) 2 cos  ϕ +  + sin  ϕ +  = 0 , 0 ≤ ϕ < 2π
 2  3

 π  π
e) 2 cos  α +  = sin  α +  , 0 ≤ α < 2π
 4  6

3π 11π 7π 19π π 3π π 7π π 13π

θ= , , x= , , y= , , ϕ= , , α= ,
8 8 12 12 2 2 6 6 12 12

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 28
Solve each of the following trigonometric equations.

a) sin (θ − 20° ) = sin (θ + 60° ) , 0 ≤ θ < 360°

b) cos ( x − 35° ) = cos ( x − 55° ) , 0 ≤ x < 360°

c) sin ( y − 48° ) = cos ( y + 12° ) , 0 ≤ y < 360°

d) sin (ϕ + 72° ) = cos (ϕ − 38° ) , 0 ≤ ϕ < 360°

e) cos (α − 36° ) = cos (α − 72° ) , 0 ≤ α < 360°

θ = 70°, 250° , x = 45°, 225° , y = 63°, 243° , ϕ = 28°, 208° ,

α = 54°, 234°

Created by T. Madas