Lecture Notes Di¤erentiating Trigonometric Functions page 1

d d 1 1
1. (sin x) = cos x 7. sin x =p
dx dx 1 x2

d d 1x 1
2. (cos x) = sin x 8. cos = p
dx dx 1 x2

d
3. (tan x) = sec2 x = tan2 x + 1 d 1x 1
dx 9. tan =
dx x2 +1

d
4. (cot x) = csc2 x = cot2 x 1 d 1x 1
dx 10. cot =
dx x2 +1

d sin x
5. (sec x) = = sec x tan x
dx cos2 x d 1x 1
11. sec = p
dx jxj x2 1

d cos x
6. (csc x) = = csc x cot x
dx sin2 x
d 1x 1
12. csc = p
dx jxj x2 1

c Hidegkuti, Powell, 2012 Last revised: January 19, 2017

Lecture Notes Di¤erentiating Trigonometric Functions page 2

Proofs

d d
Theorems 1 and 2: (sin x) = cos x and (cos x) = sin x
dx dx

sin x
Claim 1.) lim =1
x!0 x

Proof: This theorem and the next one are necessary for di¤erentiating sin x and cos x. Recall a theorem: Let
r be the radius of a circle. If is measured in radians, then the area of a sector with a central angle of is
r2
Asector = . (Notation: AB will denote the length of line segment AB.)
2
Let x be a very small positive angle, measured in radians, drawn into a unit circle as shown on the picture below.
Let B be the point where the unit circle intersects the ray determined by x. We then draw a tangent line to the
circle at point B. Let A be the point where the tangent line intersects the x axis. We also draw a vertical line
through B: Let D be the point where this vertical line intersects the x axis. Finally, let us denote by E the
point with coordinates (0; 1).

The proof will be based on the following fact: because they include each other, the following three areas can be
easily compared:
Area of triangle CDB Area of sector CEB Area of triangle ABC
Area of triangle CDB: the horizontal side, CD = cos x and the vertical side, DB = sin x. Since this is a right
1
triangle, the area is: ACDB = sin x cos x.
2
12 x x
Area of sector CEB: Asector = = .
2 2
Area of triangle ABC: there is a right angle at point B because the tangent line drawn to a circle is perpendicular
1
to the radius drawn to the point of tangency. So the area is AABC = AB BC. Clearly BC = 1. To compute
2
AB
AB, in triangle ABC, tan x = and so AB = tan x.
1
1 tan x sin x
Area of triangle ABC: (1) (tan x) = or . So now
2 2 2 cos x
Area of triangle CDB Area of sector CEB Area of triangle ABC
translates to
1 x sin x
sin x cos x
2 2 2 cos x

c Hidegkuti, Powell, 2012 Last revised: January 19, 2017

Lecture Notes Di¤erentiating Trigonometric Functions page 3

sin x sin x
Let us divide all three sides by . Because x is small and positive, is positive and so we do not need to
2 2
reverse the inequality signs.
x1
cos x
sin x
cos x
1 x
Suppose now that x approaches zero. Then both cos x and approach 1. By the sandwich principle, ,
cos x sin x
the quantity locked in between those two must also approach 1:
x 1
cos x
sin x cos x
# #
1 1

x sin x
If approaches 1; so is its reciprocal, .
sin x x
sin x
So far, we have proven the statement for positive values of x, that is, lim = 1. A similar argument works
x!0+ x
for negative values of x.

cos x 1
Claim 2.) lim =0
x!0 x
Proof:

cos x 1 cos x 1 cos x 1 cos x + 1 cos2 x 1 1 cos2 x

lim = lim 1 = lim = lim = lim
x!0 x x!0 x x!0 x cos x + 1 x!0 x (cos x + 1) x!0 x (cos x + 1)
2
sin x sin x sin x sin x sin x
= lim = lim = lim lim =1 0=0
x!0 x (cos x + 1) x!0 x cos x + 1 x!0 x x!0 cos x + 1

d d
We are now ready to prove that (sin x) = cos x and (cos x) = sin x
dx dx
Proof:
d sin (x + h) sin x sin x cos h + cos x sin h sin x
(sin x) = lim = lim
dx h!0 h h!0 h
sin x cos h sin x cos x sin h sin x (cos h 1) sin h
= lim + = lim + lim cos x
h!0 h h h!0 h h!0 h
cos h 1 sin h
= sin x lim + cos x lim = sin x 0 + cos x 1 = cos x
h!0 h h!0 h

d cos (x + h) cos x cos x cos h sin x sin h cos x

(cos x) = lim = lim
dx h!0 h h!0 h
cos x cos h cos x sin x sin h cos x (cos h 1) sin x sin h
= lim = lim lim
h!0 h h h!0 h h!0 h
cos h 1 sin h
= cos x lim sin x lim = cos x 0 sin x 1 = sin x
h!0 h h!0 h

c Hidegkuti, Powell, 2012 Last revised: January 19, 2017

Lecture Notes Di¤erentiating Trigonometric Functions page 4

d d
Theorem 3 and 4: (tan x) = sec2 x = tan2 x + 1 and (cot x) = csc2 x = cot2 x 1.
dx dx

sin x
Proof: We write tan x = and apply the quotient rule.
cos x
d d
sin x cos x cos x sin x
d sin x dx dx cos x cos x ( sin x) sin x cos2 x + sin2 x 1
= 2
= 2
= 2
= = sec2 x
dx cos x cos x cos x cos x cos2 x

1
We will now prove = tan2 x+1; which is a very important connection. Looking at the previous computation,
cos2 x
1 cos2 x + sin2 x cos2 x sin2 x
= = + = 1 + tan2 x
cos2 x cos2 x cos2 x cos2 x
d
The proof for (cot x) = cot2 x 1= csc2 x is very similar. We apply the quotient rule.
dx
d d
cos x sin x cos x sin x
d d cos x dx dx sin x sin x cos x (cos x) sin2 x cos2 x
(cot x) = = = =
dx dx sin x sin2 x sin2 x sin2 x
1
= = csc2 x
sin2 x
Also,
sin2 x cos2 x sin2 x cos2 x
= = 1 cot2 x
sin2 x sin2 x sin2 x

d d
Theorems 5 and 6: (sec x) = sec x tan x and (csc x) = csc x cot x
dx dx

1 1
Proof: We write sec x = = (cos x) and apply the chain rule.
cos x
d d 1 2 d 1 sin x 1 sin x
(sec x) = (cos x) = 1 (cos x) (cos x) = ( sin x) = = = sec x tan x
dx dx dx cos2 x 2
cos x cos x cos x

d
The proof for csc x is virtually identical: we apply the chain rule.
dx
d d 1 2 d 1 cos x cos x 1
(csc x) = (sin x) = 1 (sin x) sin x = 2 cos x = = = cot x csc x
dx dx dx sin x sin2 x sin x sin x

sin x
Note: why do we prefer the form sec x tan x over the form ? One of the reasons is the adventage we’ll see
cos2 x
in di¤erentiating the inverse functions sec 1x and csc 1 x.

c Hidegkuti, Powell, 2012 Last revised: January 19, 2017

Lecture Notes Di¤erentiating Trigonometric Functions page 5

d 1 1 d 1x 1
Theorems 7 and 8: sin x =p and cos = p
dx 1 x2 dx 1 x2

Proof: Recall that when we compose a function f with its inverse f 1; the result is always the same function,
(also called the identity function, id (x) = x)
1
f f (x) = x
We will state this fact for f (x) = sin x and di¤erentiate both sides of the equation. For the left-hand side, we use
the chain rule.
sin sin 1 x = x
d
cos sin 1 x sin 1 x = 1 divide by cos sin 1
x
dx
d 1
sin 1 x = 1
dx cos sin x
1
We now need to simplify cos sin x . We will present two methods to simplify this expression.
1
Method 1. We …rst introduce a new variable, . Let = sin x. This means that < < , and sin = x.
2 2
We need to simplify cos sin 1 x = cos . Since sin2 + cos2 = 1;
| {z }

p q
cos = = 1 1 sin2 x2
p
Since < < , cos is positive and so cos sin 1 x = 1 x2 .
2 2
1
Method 2. We …rst introduce a new variable, . Let = sin x. This means that < < , and sin = x.
2 2
1
Now the goal is to simplify cos sin x = cos .
| {z }

. .
We will use a right triangle to …nd the expression - up The adventage of this method is that now we can read
to its sign. We …rst draw a right triangle in which any trigonometric function value of = sin 1 x using
x
sin = x = . this right triangle.
1

Next we use the Pythagoream Theorem to …nd the From the triangle,
p
missing side to be 1 x2 . p
1 x2 p
1
cos = cos sin x = = 1 x2
1

p
The answer at this point is really 1 x2 as the triangle gave us the answer only up to a sign. For the sign,
we need to argue using the location of on the unit circle. Since = sin 1 x, . Thus is in the
2 p 2
1 2
…rst or in the fourth quadrant. In both cases, cosine is positive, thus cos sin x = 1 x .
d 1 1 1
Thus sin x = 1 =p .
dx cos sin x 1 x2

c Hidegkuti, Powell, 2012 Last revised: January 19, 2017

Lecture Notes Di¤erentiating Trigonometric Functions page 6

d 1x 1
The proof for cos = p is virtually identical.
dx 1 x2
Proof: Recall that when we compose a function f with its inverse f 1; the result is always the same function.
1
f f (x) = x

We will state this fact for f (x) = cos x and di¤erentiate both sides of the equation. For the left-hand side, we
use the chain rule.
1
cos cos x = x
1 d 1 1
sin cos x cos x = 1 divide by sin cos x
dx
d 1 1
cos x = 1 x)
dx sin (cos
We now need to simplify the expression sin cos 1x . We will present two methods for this.
Method 1. Let = cos 1 x. Then x = cos and is between 0 and .
!
p p
1
sin cos
| {z x} = sin = 1 cos2 = 1 x2

p
Since is between 0 and , sin is positive and so sin = 1 x2 .
Method 2. Let = cos 1 x. Then x = cos and is between 0 and .
. .
x
We …rst draw a triangle in which cos = x = . Please Now we can read any trigonometric function value using
1
note that every time we approach such a trigonometric this triangle.
question using a right triangle, our answer would be ac-
curate up to sign - for the sign we would have to argue
separately.

Now we read sine from the triangle:

p
1 1 x2 p
We
p …nd the missing side via the Pythagoream Theorem: sin = sin cos x = = 1 x2
1
1 x2 .

p
The answer at this point is really 1 x2 as the triangle gave us the answer only up to a sign. For the sign,
we need to argue using the location of on the unit circle. Since = cos 1 x, 0 . Thus is in the …rst
p
or in the second quadrant. In both cases, sine is positive, thus sin cos 1 x = 1 x2 .
d 1x 1 1
Consequently, cos = 1 x)
= p
dx sin (cos 1 x2
.

Enrichment
d 1 d 1x 1 1 x?
If sin x and cos are opposites, then what can be said about the function f (x) = sin x+cos
dx dx

c Hidegkuti, Powell, 2012 Last revised: January 19, 2017

Lecture Notes Di¤erentiating Trigonometric Functions page 7

d 1x 1 d 1x 1
Theorems 9 and 10: tan = and cot =
dx x2 +1 dx x2 +1

d
Proof: Recall that (tan x) = sec2 x = tan2 x + 1. Also recall that when we compose a function f with its
dx
inverse f 1; the result is always the same function.
1
f f (x) = x

We will state this fact for f (x) = tan x and di¤erentiate both sides of the equation. For the left-hand side, we
use the chain rule.
1
tan tan x = x
d
sec2 tan 1
x tan 1
x = 1
dx
d
tan2 tan 1
x +1 tan 1
x = 1 tan tan 1
x =x
dx
d
x2 + 1 tan 1
x = 1 divide by x2 + 1
dx
d 1 1
tan x =
dx x2 + 1

d 1x 1
The proof for cot = is virtually identical. We compose the function cot x with its inverse
dx x2 + 1
d
cot 1 x and di¤erentiate. Recall that cot x = cot2 x 1
dx
1
cot cot x = x
d
cot2 cot 1
x 1 cot 1
x = 1 cot cot 1
x =x
dx
d
x2 1 cot 1
x = 1 divide by x2 1
dx
d 1 1 1
cot x = =
dx x2 1 x2 + 1

d 1x 1 d 1x 1
Theorem 11 and 12: sec = p and csc = p
dx jxj x2 1 dx jxj x2 1

Proof: We compose the function sec x with its inverse sec 1x and di¤erentiate. Recall that
d
(sec x) = sec x tan x.
dx
1
sec sec x = x
1 1 d 1 1
sec sec x tan sec x sec x = 1 sec sec x =x
dx
1 d 1 1
x tan sec x sec x = 1 divide by x tan sec x
dx
d 1 1
sec x = 1 x)
dx x tan (sec

We now just need to simplify the expression tan sec 1x .

c Hidegkuti, Powell, 2012 Last revised: January 19, 2017

Lecture Notes Di¤erentiating Trigonometric Functions page 8

Method 1. To simplify tan sec 1x , we introduce a new variable . Let = sec 1 x. Then we have
1
tan |sec{z x} = tan where sec = x and is between 0 and . Recall that sec2 = tan2 + 1. If we don’t

have this formula memorized, we can easily derive it from the Pythagorean identity.
sin2 + cos2 = 1 divide by cos2 x
2 2
sin cos 1
+ =
cos2 cos2 cos2
tan2 + 1 = sec2
p
tan = sec2 1
Method 2. To simplify tan sec 1 x , we introduce a new variable . Let = sec 1 x. Then sec = x and is
between 0 and : Then we need to compute tan .
. .
x
We draw a right triangle in which sec =x= . Now we can read any trigonometric function value using
1
this triangle.

We
p …nd the missing side via the Pythagoream Theorem:
x2 1. Now we read from the triangle:
p
x2 1 p
1
tan = tan sec x = = x2 1
1

p
The answer at this point is really x2 1 as the triangle gave us the answer only up to a sign. Thus the
derivative is
d 1 1 1
sec x = p = p
dx x x2 1 x x2 1

We now need to …gure out the sign of the derivative. From the graph of sec 1 x we can see that it is strictly
increasing on both intervals making up its domain, thus the derivative is always positive. If x is positive, then
d 1 d 1
sec 1 x = p and if x is negative, then sec 1 x = p . This can be expressed in a
dx x x 2 1 dx x x2 1
shorter form as
d 1
sec 1 x = p
dx jxj x2 1
d 1x 1
The proof for csc = p is virtually identical. As before, we compose the function csc x with
dx jxj x2
1
d
its inverse and di¤erentiate. Recall that (csc x) = csc x cot x
dx
1
csc csc x = x
1 1 d 1 1
csc csc x cot csc x csc x = 1 csc csc x =x
dx
1 d 1 1
x cot csc x csc x = 1 divide by x cot csc x
dx
d 1 1
csc x = 1 x)
dx x cot (csc

c Hidegkuti, Powell, 2012 Last revised: January 19, 2017

Lecture Notes Di¤erentiating Trigonometric Functions page 9

1x 1 x. 1
We need to simplify cot csc . Let = csc cot csc
| {z x} = cot where csc = x and is between
2
and .
2
Method 1. We start with the Pythagorean identity and divide both sides by sin2 .

sin2 + cos2 = 1 divide by sin2 x

sin2 cos2 1
+ =
sin2 sin2 sin2
1 + cot2 = csc2
cot2 = csc2 1
p
cot = csc 2 1

x
Method 2. We draw a right triangle in which csc =x= .
1

We …nd the missing side using the Pythagorean Theorem and read the desired trigonometric function value.

Thus the derivative is

d 1 1 1
csc x = p = p
dx x x2 1 x x2 1

From the graph of csc 1x we can see that it is strictly decreasing on both intervals of its domain, thus the derivative
d 1 d
is always negative. If x is positive, then csc 1 x = p and if x is negative, then csc 1 x =
dx x x2 1 dx
1
p . This can be expressed in a shorter form as
x x2 1
d 1 1
csc x = p
dx jxj x2 1

For more documents like this, visit our page at http://www.teaching.martahidegkuti.com and click on Lecture
Notes. E-mail questions or comments to mhidegkuti@ccc.edu.

c Hidegkuti, Powell, 2012 Last revised: January 19, 2017