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Algebra 2 · Mathematics
Trigonometry · Trigonometry

Sum Formulas for Sine, Cosine, and Tangent

Before you start, make sure you know: Properties of radicals and rationalization (Algebra 1)

Your calculator dies in the middle of a quiz, and the question asks for the exact value of $\sin 75^\circ$. The angle $75^\circ$ isn't on the special-angle table, and it is tempting to write $\sin 45^\circ + \sin 30^\circ$. That is wrong. In this section you'll learn the correct formulas, and they let you build exact values for new angles out of the ones you already know.

The Sum Formulas

Suppose you turn through an angle $\alpha$ and then through an angle $\beta$. The total turn is $\alpha + \beta$. The formulas below tell you the sine, cosine, and tangent of that total turn using only the ratios of $\alpha$ and $\beta$ separately.

Unit circle showing an angle alpha followed by an additional angle beta, which together make the angle alpha plus beta. α β α + β
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Express $\cos(x + \frac{\pi}{2})$ in terms of the trigonometric ratios of the angle $x$ by expanding the corresponding sum formula and simplifying the result.

Express $\cos(x + \frac{\pi}{2})$ in terms of the trigonometric ratios of the angle $x$ by expanding the corresponding sum formula and simplifying the result.

Solve

Exact Values of Non-Special Angles

You know the exact values for $30^\circ$, $45^\circ$, and $60^\circ$:

$\theta$ $30^\circ\ (\pi/6)$ $45^\circ\ (\pi/4)$ $60^\circ\ (\pi/3)$
$\sin\theta$ $\dfrac12$ $\dfrac{\sqrt2}{2}$ $\dfrac{\sqrt3}{2}$
$\cos\theta$ $\dfrac{\sqrt3}{2}$ $\dfrac{\sqrt2}{2}$ $\dfrac12$
$\tan\theta$ $\dfrac{\sqrt3}{3}$ $1$ $\sqrt3$

Angles like $75^\circ$ and $105^\circ$ aren't in the table, but each is a sum of two angles that are.

Two decompositions: 75 degrees as 45 plus 30 degrees, and 105 degrees as 60 plus 45 degrees. 45° + 30° = 75°not special 60° + 45° = 105°not special
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Calculate the exact value of $\sin(75^\circ)$ by decomposing the angle as the sum of two notable angles ($45^\circ$ and $30^\circ$).

Calculate the exact value of $\sin(75^\circ)$ by decomposing the angle as the sum of two notable angles ($45^\circ$ and $30^\circ$).

Solve
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Determine the exact value of $\cos(105^\circ)$ using the formula for the cosine of a sum, knowing that $105^\circ = 60^\circ + 45^\circ$.

Determine the exact value of $\cos(105^\circ)$ using the formula for the cosine of a sum, knowing that $105^\circ = 60^\circ + 45^\circ$.

Solve
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Find the exact value of $\tan(75^\circ)$ by applying the formula for the tangent of a sum from the angles of $45^\circ$ and $30^\circ$. Rationalize the denominator if…

Find the exact value of $\tan(75^\circ)$ by applying the formula for the tangent of a sum from the angles of $45^\circ$ and $30^\circ$. Rationalize the denominator if necessary.

Solve

Using the Formulas in Reverse

An equation works in both directions. If an expression has the pattern of the right side of a sum formula, you can collapse it into one ratio.

Equivalence diagram: the four-term expression sin A cos B plus cos A sin B collapses into the single term sin of A plus B. sin A cos B + cos A sin B = sin(A + B)
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Simplify the following trigonometric expression to a single exact numerical term by applying the addition formulas in reverse:…

Simplify the following trigonometric expression to a single exact numerical term by applying the addition formulas in reverse:

$\sin(22^\circ)\cos(8^\circ) + \cos(22^\circ)\sin(8^\circ)$

Solve
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Reduce the following expression to an exact numerical value: $\cos(40^\circ)\cos(20^\circ) - \sin(40^\circ)\sin(20^\circ)$

Reduce the following expression to an exact numerical value:

$\cos(40^\circ)\cos(20^\circ) - \sin(40^\circ)\sin(20^\circ)$

Solve
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Calculate exactly the value of the expression $\sin(15^\circ)\cos(30^\circ) + \cos(15^\circ)\sin(30^\circ)$. Use this geometric result to find the exact area of a…

Calculate exactly the value of the expression $\sin(15^\circ)\cos(30^\circ) + \cos(15^\circ)\sin(30^\circ)$. Use this geometric result to find the exact area of a parallelogram whose adjacent sides measure $8$ in and $10$ in, knowing that the angle they form is precisely the sum of $15^\circ$ and $30^\circ$.

Solve

Starting from Ratios, Not Angles

Many problems don't give you $\alpha$ or $\beta$, only some of their ratios. The sum formulas need all four values: $\sin\alpha$, $\cos\alpha$, $\sin\beta$, $\cos\beta$. So first find the missing ones with the Pythagorean identity $\sin^2\theta + \cos^2\theta = 1$, or with a right triangle, and pay attention to the quadrant.

Two right triangles: a 3-4-5 triangle with angle alpha, and a 12-5-13 triangle with angle beta. sin α = 4/5 3 4 5 α cos β = 12/13 12 5 13 β
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Knowing that $\sin \alpha = \frac{4}{5}$ and $\cos \beta = \frac{12}{13}$, and that both $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are acute angles (belonging to the first quadrant),…

Knowing that $\sin \alpha = \frac{4}{5}$ and $\cos \beta = \frac{12}{13}$, and that both $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are acute angles (belonging to the first quadrant), calculate the exact value of $\sin(\alpha + \beta)$.

Solve
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Given the angles $\alpha$ and $\beta$ such that $\sin \alpha = \frac{3}{5}$ with $\alpha \in [\frac{\pi}{2}, \pi]$ and $\cos \beta = \frac{5}{13}$ with…

Given the angles $\alpha$ and $\beta$ such that $\sin \alpha = \frac{3}{5}$ with $\alpha \in [\frac{\pi}{2}, \pi]$ and $\cos \beta = \frac{5}{13}$ with $\beta \in [\frac{3\pi}{2}, 2\pi]$, calculate the exact value of $\cos(\alpha + \beta)$.

Solve
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A surveyor observes the roof of a building with an angle of elevation $\alpha$, satisfying $\cos \alpha = \frac{4}{5}$. Behind this building, in the same line of sight,…

A surveyor observes the roof of a building with an angle of elevation $\alpha$, satisfying $\cos \alpha = \frac{4}{5}$. Behind this building, in the same line of sight, there is a telecommunications tower. The additional angle of elevation from the roof of the building to the top of the tower, measured from the previous line of sight, is $\beta$, with $\sin \beta = \frac{7}{25}$. Knowing that both angles are acute, calculate the exact value of the cosine of the total angle of elevation $\alpha + \beta$ to the top of the tower.

Solve

Simplifying Expressions and Proving Identities

The sum formulas are also tools for algebra. To simplify an expression or prove an identity with a sum inside, expand the sum, substitute any exact values, then combine like terms.

Three-step strategy: expand the sum, plug in exact values, then combine and simplify. 1. Expandthe sum 2. Plug inexact values 3. Combineand simplify
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Prove the following trigonometric identity by expanding the numerator using the corresponding formula and simplifying the fraction:…

Prove the following trigonometric identity by expanding the numerator using the corresponding formula and simplifying the fraction:

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

Solve
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Simplify the trigonometric expression $\cos(x + \frac{\pi}{3}) + \sin(x + \frac{\pi}{6})$ so that it is exclusively in terms of $\cos x$ and/or $\sin x$.

Simplify the trigonometric expression $\cos(x + \frac{\pi}{3}) + \sin(x + \frac{\pi}{6})$ so that it is exclusively in terms of $\cos x$ and/or $\sin x$.

Solve
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In any non-right triangle $ABC$, knowing that the sum of its interior angles is $A+B+C = 180^\circ$, prove mathematically the following fundamental relationship:…

In any non-right triangle $ABC$, knowing that the sum of its interior angles is $A+B+C = 180^\circ$, prove mathematically the following fundamental relationship:

$\tan A + \tan B + \tan C = \tan A \tan B \tan C$

Solve

The Tangent of a Sum

Sometimes all you know are the tangents, such as the slopes of two ramps or the two tangents of a pair of deviations. Then the tangent formula is the best tool. Notice the minus in the denominator, and that tangent works with slopes, so no square roots are needed.

Two 45 degree turns in a row make a vertical ray at 90 degrees, where the tangent is undefined. 45° +45° 90°: tan undefined
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Given two angles $\alpha$ and $\beta$ such that $\tan \alpha = 3$ and $\tan \beta = 2$, determine the exact value of $\tan(\alpha + \beta)$.

Given two angles $\alpha$ and $\beta$ such that $\tan \alpha = 3$ and $\tan \beta = 2$, determine the exact value of $\tan(\alpha + \beta)$.

Solve
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In a solar engineering project, a photovoltaic panel has an initial inclination $\alpha$ such that $\tan \alpha = \frac{3}{4}$. To optimize capture in winter, a…

In a solar engineering project, a photovoltaic panel has an initial inclination $\alpha$ such that $\tan \alpha = \frac{3}{4}$. To optimize capture in winter, a mechanism increases the inclination by an additional angle of $15^\circ$. Calculate the exact value of $\tan(\alpha + 15^\circ)$ without using decimal approximations, knowing that $\tan(15^\circ) = 2 - \sqrt{3}$.

Solve
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In an optics experiment, a light beam passes through two consecutive prisms that deviate its path in the same plane. The first prism produces a deviation $\alpha$ such…

In an optics experiment, a light beam passes through two consecutive prisms that deviate its path in the same plane. The first prism produces a deviation $\alpha$ such that $\tan \alpha = \frac{1}{3}$, and the second an additional deviation $\beta$ such that $\tan \beta = \frac{1}{2}$. Show that the total deviation $\alpha + \beta$ is exactly $45^\circ$ by calculating the tangent of the sum angle.

Solve

Finding an Unknown Tangent

What if you know the sum and one of the angles, and need the other? Put the known numbers into the tangent formula, and you get an equation in $\tan\beta$. Solve that equation as you would any linear equation.

A heading at angle alpha above the east axis, turned further by an angle beta, giving a total angle alpha plus beta from the east axis. α β tan α = 3/4 tan(α + β) = 12/5 east
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Knowing that $\tan \alpha = \frac{1}{2}$ and that the tangent of the sum angle is $\tan(\alpha + \beta) = 3$, determine the exact value of $\tan \beta$ by setting up the…

Knowing that $\tan \alpha = \frac{1}{2}$ and that the tangent of the sum angle is $\tan(\alpha + \beta) = 3$, determine the exact value of $\tan \beta$ by setting up the corresponding equation from the addition formula.

Solve
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A planar robotic arm consists of two links. The first link forms an angle $\alpha$ with the horizontal, where $\sin \alpha = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ (being in the first…

A planar robotic arm consists of two links. The first link forms an angle $\alpha$ with the horizontal, where $\sin \alpha = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ (being in the first quadrant). The second link forms an angle $\beta$ of relative rotation with respect to the extension of the first link. If to reach a critical part it is required that the total inclination of the second link with respect to the horizontal is such that $\tan(\alpha + \beta) = 2$, calculate the exact value of $\tan \beta$.

α β α+β
Solve
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A reconnaissance plane initially flies on a heading that forms an angle $\alpha$ north of east, verifying that $\tan \alpha = \frac{3}{4}$. A strong crosswind deviates…

A reconnaissance plane initially flies on a heading that forms an angle $\alpha$ north of east, verifying that $\tan \alpha = \frac{3}{4}$. A strong crosswind deviates its path by an additional angle $\beta$ to the north, so that the effective heading over the ground forms an angle $\alpha + \beta$ with the east. If the control tower measures that the tangent of the effective heading is $\frac{12}{5}$, find the exact values of $\sin \beta$ and $\cos \beta$ without resorting to calculating the angles with a calculator.

Solve

Solving Equations and Systems

When the unknown angle appears inside a sum, expand it. The equation then involves $\sin x$ and $\cos x$ alone, and you can usually reduce it to a single tangent.

Unit circle with a line through the origin showing the two solutions of tan x equals 1: 45 degrees and 225 degrees. 45° 225° tan x = 1 gives two angles in [0°, 360°)
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Solve the trigonometric equation $\sin(x + 30^\circ) = 2\cos x$ for the interval $x \in [0^\circ, 360^\circ)$. Express the solutions exactly in degrees.

Solve the trigonometric equation $\sin(x + 30^\circ) = 2\cos x$ for the interval $x \in [0^\circ, 360^\circ)$. Express the solutions exactly in degrees.

Solve
Practice★★★Not started
Find all exact solutions of the equation $\sin(x + \frac{\pi}{6}) - \cos x = 0$ in the interval $[0, 2\pi)$.

Find all exact solutions of the equation $\sin(x + \frac{\pi}{6}) - \cos x = 0$ in the interval $[0, 2\pi)$.

Solve
Practice★★★Not started
Solve the following system of trigonometric equations for $x, y \in [0, \frac{\pi}{2}]$ and give the exact values of $x$ and $y$ in radians: $\sin(x+y) = 1$…

Solve the following system of trigonometric equations for $x, y \in [0, \frac{\pi}{2}]$ and give the exact values of $x$ and $y$ in radians:

$\sin(x+y) = 1$

$\cos x \sin y = \frac{1}{2}$

Solve

Back to the start: to find $\sin 75^\circ$ exactly, write $75^\circ = 45^\circ + 30^\circ$ and apply $\sin(\alpha+\beta) = \sin\alpha\cos\beta + \cos\alpha\sin\beta$. The result is $\dfrac{\sqrt6+\sqrt2}{4}$, not $\sin 45^\circ + \sin 30^\circ$.

Summary

See all the exercises in this section