Trigonometry - Sin, Cos, Tan, Cot

A circle centered at the origin of the coordinate system and with a radius of 1 is known as a unit circle.

Unit Circle

If P is a point from the circle and A is the angle between PO and x axis then:

  The x-coordinate of P is called the cosine of A and is denoted by cos A;

  The y-coordinate of P is called the sine of A and is denoted by sin A;

  The number $\frac{\sin(A)}{\cos(A)}$ is called the tangent of A and is denoted by tan A;

  The number $\frac{\cos(A)}{\sin(A)}$ is called the cotangent of A and is denoted by cot A.

The sine function

sin: R -> R
All trigonometric functions are periodic. The period of sine is $2\pi$.
The range of the function is [-1,1].

Sine Graph

The cosine function

cos: R -> R
The period of cosine is $2\pi$.
The range of the function is [-1,1].

Cosine Graph

The tangent function

tan : R -> R
The range of the function is R.
The period is $\pi$ and the tangent function is undefined at $x = \frac{\pi}{2} + k\pi$, k=0,1,2,...
Here is the graph of the tangent function on the interval $0 - \pi$

Tangent Graph

Animated graph (opens in a new window):
The graph of tangent function on the interval $0\ -\ 2\pi$

The cotangent function

cot : R -> R
The range of the function is R. The period is $\pi$ and that the function is undefined at $x = k\pi$, k=0,1,2,...

Cotangent Graph

The values of sin, cos, tan, cot at the angles of 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°, 135°, 150°, 180°, 210°, 225°, 240°, 270°, 300°, 315°, 330°, 360°

$A^{\circ}$ $0^{\circ}$ $30^{\circ}$ $45^{\circ}$ $60^{\circ}$ $90^{\circ}$ $120^{\circ}$ $135^{\circ}$ $150^{\circ}$ $180^{\circ}$ $210^{\circ}$ $225^{\circ}$ $240^{\circ}$ $270^{\circ}$ $300^{\circ}$ $315^{\circ}$ $330^{\circ}$ $360^{\circ}$
$A rad$ $0$ $\frac{\pi}{6}$ $\frac{\pi}{4}$ $\frac{\pi}{3}$ $\frac{\pi}{2}$ $\frac{2\pi}{3}$ $\frac{3\pi}{4}$ $\frac{5\pi}{6}$ $\pi$ $\frac{7\pi}{6}$ $\frac{5\pi}{4}$ $\frac{4\pi}{3}$ $\frac{3\pi}{2}$ $\frac{5\pi}{3}$ $\frac{7\pi}{4}$ $\frac{11\pi}{6}$ $2\pi$
$\sin A$ $0$ $\frac{1}{2}$ $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ $1$ $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ $\frac{1}{2}$ $0$ $-\frac{1}{2}$ $-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ $-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ $-1$ $-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ $-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ $-\frac{1}{2}$ $0$
$\cos A$ $1$ $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ $\frac{1}{2}$ $0$ $-\frac{1}{2}$ $-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ $-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ $-1$ $-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ $-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ $-\frac{1}{2}$ $0$ $\frac{1}{2}$ $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ $1$
$\tan A$ $0$ $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$ $1$ $\sqrt{3}$ $-$ $-\sqrt{3}$ $-1$ $-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$ $0$ $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$ $1$ $\sqrt{3}$ $-$ $-\sqrt{3}$ $-1$ $-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$ $0$
$\cot A$ $-$ $\sqrt{3}$ $1$ $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$ $0$ $-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$ $-1$ $-\sqrt{3}$ $-$ $\sqrt{3}$ $1$ $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$ $0$ $-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$ $-1$ $-\sqrt{3}$ $-$

The easiest way to remember the basic values of sin and cos
at the angles of 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°:
sin([0, 30, 45, 60, 90]) = cos([90, 60, 45, 30, 0]) = sqrt([0, 1, 2, 3, 4]/4)

Basic Trigonometric Identities

For every angle $\alpha$ corresponds exactly one point $P(\cos(\alpha),\sin(\alpha))$ on the unit circle.

$\sin^2(\alpha) + \cos^2(\alpha) = 1$

If the sum of two angles $\alpha$ and $\beta$ is 180 (i.e. $\alpha + \beta = 180^{\circ}$) then:

  • $\sin(\alpha) = \sin(\beta)$
  • $\cos(\alpha) = -\cos(\beta)$
  • $\tan(\alpha) = -\tan(\beta)$
  • $\cot(\alpha) = -\cot(\beta)$

If the sum of two angles $\alpha$ and $\beta$ is 90 (i.e. $\alpha + \beta = 90^{\circ}$) then:

  • $\sin(\alpha) = \cos(\beta)$
  • $\cos(\alpha) = \sin(\beta)$
  • $\tan(\alpha) = \cot(\beta)$
  • $\cot(\alpha) = \tan(\beta)$

$-\alpha$ $90^\circ - \alpha$ $90^\circ + \alpha$ $180^\circ - \alpha$
$\textrm{ sin }$ $-\textrm{ sin }\alpha$ $\textrm{ cos }\alpha$ $\textrm{ cos }\alpha$ $\textrm{ sin }\alpha$
$\textrm{ cos }$ $\textrm{ cos }\alpha$ $\textrm{ sin }\alpha$ $-\textrm{ sin}\alpha$ $-\textrm{ cos }\alpha$
$\textrm{ tan }$ $-\textrm{ tan }\alpha$ $\textrm{ cot }\alpha$ $-\textrm{ cot }\alpha$ $-\textrm{ tan } \alpha$
$\textrm{ cot }$ $-\textrm{ cot }\alpha$ $\textrm{ tan }\alpha$ $-\textrm{ tan }\alpha$ $-\textrm{ cot }\alpha$

Trigonometric Formulas

Half-Angle Formulas

$\sin\frac{\alpha}{2}=\pm\sqrt{\frac{1-\cos \alpha}{2}}$

+ (positive) if $\frac{\alpha}{2}$ lies in quadrant | or ||

- (negative) if $\frac{\alpha}{2}$ lies in quadrant ||| or |V


$\cos\frac{\alpha}{2}=\pm\sqrt{\frac{1+\cos \alpha}{2}}$

+ (positive) if $\frac{\alpha}{2}$ lies in quadrant | or |V

- (negative) if $\frac{\alpha}{2}$ lies in quadrant || or |||


$\tan\frac{\alpha}{2}=\pm\sqrt{\frac{1-\cos \alpha}{1+\cos \alpha}}$

+ (positive) if $\frac{\alpha}{2}$ lies in quadrant | or |||

- (negative) if $\frac{\alpha}{2}$ lies in quadrant || or |V


$\cot\frac{\alpha}{2}=\pm\sqrt{\frac{1+\cos \alpha}{1-\cos \alpha}}$

+ (positive) if $\frac{\alpha}{2}$ lies in quadrant | or |||

- (negative) if $\frac{\alpha}{2}$ lies in quadrant || or |V


$\tan\frac{\alpha}{2} = \frac{\sin \alpha}{1+\cos \alpha} = \frac{1-\cos \alpha}{\sin \alpha}=\csc \alpha-\cot \alpha$

$\cot\frac{\alpha}{2} = \frac{\sin \alpha}{1-\cos \alpha} = \frac{1+\cos \alpha}{\sin \alpha}=\csc \alpha+\cot \alpha$

Double and Triple Angle Formulas

$\sin(2\alpha) = 2\sin(\alpha)\cdot \cos(\alpha)$

$\cos(2\alpha) = \cos^2(\alpha) - \sin^2(\alpha) = 2\cos^2(\alpha) - 1 = 1 - 2\sin^2(\alpha)$

$\tan(2\alpha) = \frac{2\tan(\alpha)}{1- \tan^2(\alpha)}$

$\cos(2\alpha) = \frac{1 - \tan^2(\alpha)}{1 + \tan^2(\alpha)}$

$\sin(2\alpha) = \frac{2\tan(\alpha)}{1 + \tan^2(\alpha)}$


$\sin3\alpha = 3\sin \alpha - 4 \sin^3\alpha$

$\cos3\alpha = 4\cos^3\alpha - 3 \cos \alpha$

$\tan3\alpha=\frac{3\tan \alpha - \tan^3\alpha}{1-3\tan^2\alpha}$

$\cot3\alpha=\frac{\cot^3\alpha-3\cot \alpha}{3\cot^2\alpha-1}$


$\sin4\alpha = 4\cos^3A\cdot \sin \alpha - 4\cos \alpha\cdot \sin^3\alpha$

$\cos4\alpha = \cos^4\alpha - 6\cos^2\alpha\cdot \sin^2\alpha + \sin^4\alpha$

$\tan4\alpha=\frac{4\tan \alpha - 4\tan^3A}{1-6\tan^2\alpha+\tan^4\alpha}$

$\cot4\alpha=\frac{\cot^4\alpha-6\cot^2\alpha+1}{4\cot^3\alpha-4\cot \alpha}$

Power-Reducing Formulas

$\sin^2(\alpha)=\frac{1 - \cos(2\alpha)}{2}$

$\sin^3(\alpha)=\frac{3\sin \alpha - \sin(3\alpha)}{4}$

$\sin^4(\alpha)=\frac{\cos(4\alpha) - 4\cos(2\alpha) + 3}{8}$


$\cos^2(\alpha) = \frac{1 + \cos(2\alpha)}{2}$

$\cos^3(\alpha)=\frac{3\cos \alpha + \cos(3\alpha)}{4}$

$\cos^4(\alpha)=\frac{4\cos(2\alpha) + \cos(4\alpha) + 3}{8}$

Sum and Difference of Angles

$\sin(\alpha + \beta) = \sin(\alpha)\cdot \cos(\beta) + \cos(\alpha)\cdot \sin(\beta)$

$\sin(\alpha - \beta) = \sin(\alpha)\cdot \cos(\beta) - \cos(\alpha)\cdot \sin(\beta)$


$\cos(\alpha + \beta) = \cos(\alpha)\cdot \cos(\beta) - \sin(\alpha)\cdot \sin(\beta)$

$\cos(\alpha - \beta) = \cos(\alpha)\cdot \cos(\beta) + \sin(\alpha)\cdot \sin(\beta)$


$\tan(\alpha + \beta) = \frac{\sin(\alpha + \beta)}{\cos(\alpha + \beta)}=\frac{\sin(\alpha)\cdot \cos(\beta) + \cos(\alpha)\cdot \sin(\beta)}{\cos(\alpha)\cdot \cos(\beta) - \sin(\alpha)\cdot \sin(\beta)}$

$\tan(\alpha + \beta) = \frac{\tan(\alpha) + \tan(\beta)}{1 - \tan(\alpha)\cdot\tan(\beta)}$

$\cot(\alpha \pm \beta) = \frac{\cot(\beta)\cot(\alpha)\mp 1}{\cot(\beta)\pm \cot(\alpha)}=\frac{1\mp \tan(\alpha)\tan(\beta)}{\tan(\alpha)\pm \tan(\beta)}$


$\sin(\alpha + \beta + \gamma) = \sin \alpha\cdot\cos \beta\cdot\cos \gamma + \cos \alpha\cdot\sin \beta\cdot\cos \gamma + \cos \alpha\cdot\cos \beta\cdot\sin \gamma - \sin \alpha\cdot\sin \beta\cdot\sin \gamma$

$\cos(\alpha + \beta + \gamma) = \cos \alpha\cdot\cos \beta\cdot\cos \gamma - \sin \alpha\cdot\sin \beta\cdot\cos \gamma - \sin \alpha\cdot\cos \beta\cdot\sin \gamma $
$- \sin \alpha\cdot\cos \beta \cdot\sin \gamma - \cos \alpha \cdot \sin \beta\cdot \sin \gamma$

$\tan(\alpha + \beta + \gamma) = \frac{\tan \alpha + \tan \beta + \tan \gamma - \tan \alpha\cdot \tan \beta \cdot \tan \gamma}{1 - \tan \alpha \cdot\tan \beta - \tan \beta\cdot\tan \gamma - \tan \alpha\cdot\tan \gamma}$

Sum and Difference of Trigonometric Functions

$\textrm{ sin } \alpha + \textrm{ sin }\beta = 2 \textrm{ sin }\frac{\alpha + \beta}{2} \textrm{ cos }\frac{\alpha - \beta}{2}$

$\textrm{ sin } \alpha - \textrm{ sin }\beta = 2 \textrm{ sin }\frac{\alpha - \beta}{2} \textrm{ cos }\frac{\alpha + \beta}{2}$


$\textrm{ cos } \alpha + \textrm{ cos }\beta = 2 \textrm{ cos }\frac{\alpha + \beta}{2} \textrm{ cos }\frac{\alpha - \beta}{2}$

$\textrm{ cos } \alpha - \textrm{ cos }\beta = -2 \textrm{ sin }\frac{\alpha + \beta}{2} \textrm{ sin }\frac{\alpha - \beta}{2}$


$\tan \alpha + \tan \beta = \frac{\sin(\alpha+\beta)}{\cos \alpha \cdot\cos \beta}$

$\tan \alpha - \tan \beta = \frac{\sin(\alpha-\beta)}{\cos \alpha\cdot\cos \beta}$


$\cot \alpha + \cot \beta = \frac{\sin(\alpha+\beta)}{\sin \alpha\cdot\sin \beta}$

$\cot \alpha - \cot \beta = \frac{-\sin(\alpha-\beta)}{\sin \alpha\cdot\sin \beta}$

Multiplication of 2 Trigonometric Functions

$\textrm{ sin }\alpha \textrm{ sin }\beta = \frac{1}{2} (\textrm{ cos }(\alpha - \beta) - \textrm{ cos }(\alpha + \beta))$

$\textrm{ cos }\alpha \textrm{ cos }\beta = \frac{1}{2} (\textrm{ cos }(\alpha - \beta) + \textrm{ cos }(\alpha + \beta))$

$\textrm{ sin }\alpha \textrm{ cos }\beta = \frac{1}{2} (\textrm{ sin }(\alpha + \beta) + \textrm{ sin }(\alpha - \beta))$


$\tan \alpha \cdot \tan \beta = \frac{\tan \alpha+\tan \beta}{\cot \alpha+\cot \beta}=-\frac{\tan \alpha-\tan \beta}{\cot \alpha-\cot \beta}$

$\cot \alpha \cdot \cot \beta = \frac{\cot \alpha+\cot \beta}{\tan \alpha+\tan \beta}$

$\tan \alpha \cdot \cot \beta = \frac{\tan \alpha+\cot \beta}{\cot \alpha+\tan \beta}$


$\sin \alpha\sin \beta\sin \gamma = \frac{1}{4}\big(\sin(\alpha+\beta-\gamma)+\sin(\beta+\gamma-\alpha)+\sin(\gamma+\alpha-\beta)-\sin(\alpha+\beta+\gamma)\big)$

$\cos \alpha\cos \beta\cos \gamma = \frac{1}{4}\big(\cos(\alpha+\beta-\gamma)+\cos(\beta+\gamma-\alpha)+\cos(\gamma+\alpha-\beta)+\cos(\alpha+\beta+\gamma)\big)$

$\sin \alpha\sin \beta\cos \gamma = \frac{1}{4}\big(-\cos(\alpha+\beta-\gamma)+\cos(\beta+\gamma-\alpha)+\cos(\gamma+\alpha-\beta)-\cos(\alpha+\beta+\gamma)\big)$

$\sin \alpha\cos \beta\cos \gamma = \frac{1}{4}\big(\sin(\alpha+\beta-\gamma)-\sin(\beta+\gamma-\alpha)+\sin(\gamma+\alpha-\beta)+\sin(\alpha+\beta+\gamma)\big)$

Tangent half-angle substitution

$\sin \alpha = \frac{2\tan\frac{\alpha}{2}}{1+\tan^2\frac{\alpha}{2}}$

$\cos \alpha = \frac{1-\tan^2\frac{\alpha}{2}}{1+\tan^2\frac{\alpha}{2}}$

$\tan \alpha = \frac{2\tan\frac{\alpha}{2}}{1-\tan^2\frac{\alpha}{2}}$

$\cot \alpha = \frac{1-\tan^2\frac{\alpha}{2}}{2\tan\frac{\alpha}{2}}$

Other Trigonometric Formulas

$1\pm\sin \alpha=2\sin^2\big(\frac{\pi}{4}\pm \frac{\alpha}{2}\big)=2\cos^2\big(\frac{\pi}{4}\mp \frac{\alpha}{2}\big)$


$\frac{1-\sin \alpha}{1+\sin \alpha} = \tan^2(\frac{\pi}{4}-\frac{\alpha}{2})$

$\frac{1-\cos \alpha}{1+\cos \alpha} = \tan^2\frac{\alpha}{2}$

$\frac{1-\tan \alpha}{1+\tan \alpha} = \tan(\frac{\pi}{4}-\alpha)$

$\frac{1+\tan \alpha}{1-\tan \alpha} = \tan(\frac{\pi}{4}+\alpha)$

$\frac{\cot \alpha + 1}{\cot \alpha - 1} = \cot(\frac{\pi}{4}-\alpha)$

$\tan \alpha + \cot \alpha = \frac{2}{\sin2\alpha}$

$\tan \alpha - \cot \alpha = -2\cot2\alpha$

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