QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY

DIFFUN CAMPUS
Diffun, 3401 Quirino

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE

in
Math 104c (Trigonometry)

Prepared by

NELSON D. GURAY, MOM

Associate Professor IV
 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
DIFFUN CAMPUS
Diffun, 3401 Quirino

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Module 4 Analytic Trigonometry

Lesson 3 Product to Sum Identities
Competencies The student is expected to be able to:
1. develop and use product/sum identities.
Discussion
Product/Sum Identities

By adding and subtracting sum and difference identities for sine and cosine,
a new set of identities can be derived. At times it is necessary to express a
trigonometric sum as a product or a product as a sum.

Product to Sum Identities

1
cos 𝛼 cos 𝛽 = [cos(𝛼 − 𝛽) + cos(𝛼 + 𝛽)]
2
1
sin 𝛼 sin 𝛽 = [cos(𝛼 − 𝛽) − cos(𝛼 + 𝛽)]
2
1
sin 𝛼 cos 𝛽 = [sin(𝛼 + 𝛽) + sin(𝛼 − 𝛽)]
2
1
cos 𝛼 sin 𝛽 = [sin(𝛼 + 𝛽) − sin(𝛼 − 𝛽)]
2

Each of the product identities is found by adding or subtracting the sum and
difference identities for sine and cosine.

Let us add cos(𝛼 − 𝛽) and cos(𝛼 + 𝛽),

cos 𝛼 cos 𝛽 + sin 𝛼 sin 𝛽 = cos(𝛼 − 𝛽)

cos 𝛼 cos 𝛽 − sin 𝛼 sin 𝛽 = cos(𝛼 + 𝛽)
2 cos 𝛼 cos 𝛽 = cos(𝛼 − 𝛽) + cos(𝛼 + 𝛽)
𝟏
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜶 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜷 = 𝟐 [𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝜶 − 𝜷) + 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝜶 + 𝜷)]

Now, let us cos(𝛼 + 𝛽) from cos(𝛼 − 𝛽),

cos 𝛼 cos 𝛽 + sin 𝛼 sin 𝛽 = cos(𝛼 − 𝛽)

cos 𝛼 cos 𝛽 − sin 𝛼 sin 𝛽 = cos(𝛼 + 𝛽)
2 sin 𝛼 sin 𝛽 = cos(𝛼 − 𝛽) − cos(𝛼 + 𝛽)
𝟏
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜶 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜷 = [𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝜶 − 𝜷) − 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝜶 + 𝜷)]
𝟐

The other two identities can be verified in a similar manner.

Example 1. Express 2 cos 40𝑜 sin 15𝑜 as a difference.

Solution:
1
Using the identity cos 𝛼 sin 𝛽 = [sin(𝛼 + 𝛽) − sin(𝛼 − 𝛽)], we have
2

2 cos 𝛼 sin 𝛽 = sin(𝛼 + 𝛽) − sin(𝛼 − 𝛽)

2 cos 40𝑜 sin 15𝑜 = sin(40𝑜 + 15𝑜 ) − sin(40𝑜 − 15𝑜 )
= 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟓𝟓𝒐 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟓𝒐
QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
DIFFUN CAMPUS
Diffun, 3401 Quirino

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Example 2. Express cos 27𝑜 + cos 61𝑜 as a product.

Solution:
Let 𝛼 + 𝛽 = 61𝑜 and 𝛼 − 𝛽 = 27𝑜 . Add the two equations and solve for 𝛼.
𝛼 + 𝛽 = 61𝑜
𝛼 − 𝛽 = 27𝑜
-----------------
2𝛼 = 88𝑜 ⇒ 𝛼 = 44𝑜

Next, solve for 𝛽.

44𝑜 + 𝛽 = 61𝑜 ⇒ 𝛽 = 17𝑜
1
Then, use the identity cos 𝛼 cos 𝛽 = [cos(𝛼 − 𝛽) + cos(𝛼 + 𝛽)]
2

cos(𝛼 − 𝛽) + cos(𝛼 + 𝛽) = 2 cos 44𝑜 cos 17𝑜

𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝟕𝒐 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟔𝟏𝒐 = 𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟒𝟒𝒐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟏𝟕𝒐

Verify the fact that if 𝛼 + 𝛽 = 27𝑜 and 𝛼 − 𝛽 = 61𝑜 in Example 2, you will
obtain the same result.

Example 3. Express each of the following products as a sum containing only

sines or only cosines.

a) sin 6𝜃 sin 4𝜃 b) cos 3𝜃 cos 𝜃 c) sin 3𝜃 cos 5𝜃

Solution:
1
a) We use the identity sin 𝛼 sin 𝛽 = [cos(𝛼 − 𝛽) − cos(𝛼 + 𝛽)]. Thus,
2

1
sin 6𝜃 sin 4𝜃 = [cos(6𝜃 − 4𝜃) − cos(6𝜃 + 4𝜃)]
2
𝟏
= [(𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝟐𝜽) − 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝟏𝟎𝜽)]
𝟐

1
b) We use the identity cos 𝛼 cos 𝛽 = [cos(𝛼 − 𝛽) + cos(𝛼 + 𝛽)]. Thus,
2
1
cos 3𝜃 cos 𝜃 = [cos(3𝜃 − 𝜃) + cos(3𝜃 + 𝜃)]
2
𝟏
= [𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝟐𝜽) + 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝟒𝜽)]
𝟐

1
c) We use the identity sin 𝛼 cos 𝛽 = [sin(𝛼 + 𝛽) + sin(𝛼 − 𝛽)]. Thus,
2

1
sin 3𝜃 cos 5𝜃 = [sin(3𝜃 + 5𝜃) + sin(3𝜃 − 5𝜃)]
2
1
= [sin(8𝜃) + sin(−2𝜃)]
2
𝟏
= [𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝟖𝜽) − 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝟐𝜽)]
𝟐

The Product to Sum Identities can also be expressed in the following forms
known as Sum to Product Identities. To derive these alternate identities, let
𝑥 = 𝛼 + 𝛽 and 𝑦 = 𝛼 − 𝛽. Add these equations to solve for 𝛼 and subtract to solve
for 𝛽.
QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
DIFFUN CAMPUS
Diffun, 3401 Quirino

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

𝑥 =𝛼+𝛽 𝑥 =𝛼+𝛽
𝑦 = 𝛼−𝛽 𝑦 = 𝛼−𝛽
----------------- ------------------
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 2𝛼 𝑥 − 𝑦 = 2𝛽
𝑥+𝑦 𝑥−𝑦
2
=𝛼 2
=𝛽
Substitute these values into the Product to Sum Identities to obtain the
Sum to Product Identities.

Sum to Product Identities

𝑥 + 𝑦 𝑥 − 𝑦
cos 𝑥 + cos 𝑦 = 2 cos ( ) cos ( )
2 2
𝑥 + 𝑦 𝑥 − 𝑦
cos 𝑥 − cos 𝑦 = − 2 sin ( ) sin ( )
2 2
𝑥 + 𝑦 𝑥 − 𝑦
sin 𝑥 + sin 𝑦 = 2 sin ( ) cos ( )
2 2
𝑥 + 𝑦 𝑥 − 𝑦
sin 𝑥 − sin 𝑦 = 2 cos ( ) sin ( )
2 2

Example 4. Express sin 70𝑜 + sin 24𝑜 as a product.

Solution:
𝑥+𝑦 𝑥−𝑦
Let 𝑥 = 70𝑜 and 𝑦 = 24𝑜 . Applying sin 𝑥 + sin 𝑦 = 2 sin ( ) cos ( ), we
2 2
have
70𝑜 + 24𝑜 70𝑜 − 24𝑜
sin 70𝑜 + sin 24𝑜 = 2 sin ( ) cos ( )
2 2
𝒐 𝒐
= 𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟒𝟕 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝟑

Example 5. Express each sum or difference as product of sines and/or cosines.

a) sin(5𝜃) + sin(3𝜃) b) cos(3𝜃) − cos(2𝜃)
Solution:
𝑥+𝑦 𝑥−𝑦
a) Use sin 𝑥 + sin 𝑦 = 2 sin ( ) cos ( ) and let 𝑥 = 5𝜃 and 𝑦 = 3𝜃
2 2
5𝜃 + 3𝜃 5𝜃 − 3𝜃
sin(5𝜃) + sin(3𝜃) = 2 sin ( ) cos ( )
2 2
= 𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟒𝜽 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽

𝑥+𝑦 𝑥−𝑦
b) Use cos 𝑥 − cos 𝑦 = − 2 sin ( ) sin ( ) and let 𝑥 = 3𝜃 and 𝑦 = 2𝜃
2 2

3𝜃 + 2𝜃 3𝜃 − 2𝜃
cos 3𝜃 − cos 2𝜃 = − 2 sin ( ) sin ( )
2 2
𝟓𝜽 𝜽
= −𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐬
𝟐 𝟐
 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
DIFFUN CAMPUS
Diffun, 3401 Quirino

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

sin 4𝜃 + sin 6𝜃
Example 6. Prove: cot 𝜃 =
cos 4𝜃 − cos 6𝜃

Proof:
cot 𝜃 sin 4𝜃 + sin 6𝜃
cos 4𝜃 − cos 6𝜃

4𝜃 + 6𝜃 4𝜃 − 6𝜃 𝑥 + 𝑦 𝑥 − 𝑦
2 sin cos sin 𝑥 + sin 𝑦 = 2 sin ( ) cos ( )
2 2 2 2
4𝜃 + 6𝜃 4𝜃 − 6𝜃 𝑥 + 𝑦 𝑥 − 𝑦
−2 sin sin cos 𝑥 − cos 𝑦 = − 2 sin ( ) sin ( )
2 2 2 2

10𝜃 −2𝜃
2 sin ( ) cos ( )
2 2
10𝜃 −2𝜃
−2 sin ( ) sin ( )
2 2

2 sin 5𝜃 cos(−𝜃)
−2 sin 5𝜃 sin(−𝜃)

cos(−𝜃)
− sin(−𝜃)

cos 𝜃 Even-odd identities

sin 𝜃

cot 𝜃 = cot 𝜃 sin 4𝜃 + sin 6𝜃

Thus, cot 𝜃 = .
cos 4𝜃 − cos 6𝜃

Enrichment Try This!

Activity
1. Express each product as a sum or difference.

a) 2 sin 50𝑜 cos 20𝑜

𝜋 𝜋
b) 2 cos sin
8 4
c) 2 cos 40𝑜 cos 10𝑜

2. Express each sum or difference as a product.

a) sin 12𝜃 + sin 3𝜃
6𝜋 2𝜋
b) cos − cos
7 7

c) sin 46 − sin 98𝑜

𝑜

cos 3𝛽 + cos 𝛽
3. Prove: cot β =
sin 3𝛽 − sin 𝛽

Comprehension Use the concepts you to the following, write your complete solution in your problem
Check set notebook.

1. Express each sum or difference as a product.

7𝜋 2𝜋
a) cos + cos
9 9

b) sin 26 − sin 84𝑜

𝑜

c) cos 2𝜃 + cos 7𝜃

2. Express each product as sum or difference.

a) 2 sin 15𝑜 cos 45𝑜
 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
DIFFUN CAMPUS
Diffun, 3401 Quirino

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

𝜋 𝜋
𝑏) sin sin .
6 4

d) 2 cos 4𝜃 sin 3𝜃

cos 𝛼 −cos 3𝛼
3. Prove: tan 2α =
sin 3𝛼−sin 𝛼

Answers Key:
Try this!

3𝜋 𝜋
1) a. sin 70𝑜 + sin 30𝑜 b. sin + sin c. cos 30𝑜 + cos 50𝑜
8 8

15𝜃 9𝜃 8𝜋 4𝜋
2) a. 2 sin ( ) cos ( ) b. −2 sin sin c. −2 cos 144𝑜 sin 52𝑜
2 2 7 7

References Hayden, J. and Hall, B. (1993). Trigonometry. Prentice Hall

Leithold, L. (1989). College Algebra and Trigonometry. Addison Wesley.
Malaborbor, P. et.al. (2003). Functions. Educational Resources Corp.
Moyer, R. & Ayres, F. (2012). Schaum’s Outline of Trigonometry, 5th
Edition, McGraw Hill.
Sullivan, Michael (2008). Algebra & Trigonometry 8th Edition. Prentice Hall