Objectives
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Symbolically verify identities by using various trig identities.
Section 8.2 Verifying Identities (TE2)
Subsection 8.2.1 Activities
Remark 8.2.1.
Occasionally a question may ask you to “prove the identity” or “establish the identity.” In these situations, you must show the algebraic manipulations that demonstrate that the left and right side of the equation are equal. You can think of a “prove the identity” problem as a simplification problem where you know the answer: you know what the end goal of the simplification should be, and just need to show the steps to get there.
To prove an identity, start with the expression on one side of the identity and manipulate it using algebra and trigonometric identities until you have simplified it to the expression on the other side of the equation. Do not treat the identity like an equation! The proof is establishing the two expressions are equal, so work with one side at a time rather than applying an operation simultaneously to both sides of the equation.
Activity 8.2.2.
Follow the steps to verify the identity
\begin{equation*}
\tan\theta\cdot\cos\theta=\sin\theta\text{.}
\end{equation*}
(a)
Rewrite the left-hand side so that each trigonometric function is written in terms of sine and cosine.
(b)
Now simplify the left-hand side.
(c)
Compare the simplified version of the left hand side to the original right hand side of the identity. What do you notice?
Remark 8.2.3.
As we saw in Activity 8.2.2, one method that often helps in verifying identities is to rewrite everything in terms of sine and cosine to see if one side of the equation simplifies.
Activity 8.2.4.
Verify the identity:
\begin{equation*}
\cos\theta + \sin\theta\tan\theta = \sec\theta\text{.}
\end{equation*}
(a)
Rewrite the left-hand side in terms of sine and cosine.
(b)
Now find a common denominator to add the two fractions. Add the fractions so that you have one fraction on the left-hand side.
(c)
Simplify the numerator of your fraction by using one of the Pythagorean Identities.
Activity 8.2.5.
Verify the following identity:
\begin{equation*}
\dfrac{\tan\theta - \cot\theta}{\sin\theta\cos\theta} = \sec^2\theta - \csc^2\theta\text{.}
\end{equation*}
(a)
In some cases, the more complex side involves a fraction that can be split up. How can we rewrite the left side of the equation so that we end up with two fractions?
(b)
(c)
Simplify each complex fraction to verify that the left-hand side is equal to \(\sec^2\theta-\csc^2\theta\text{.}\)
Remark 8.2.6.
Starting with the more complex side can sometimes make the simplification easier.
Activity 8.2.7.
Refer back to Activity 8.2.5 to help you verify the identity:
\begin{equation*}
\dfrac{\csc\theta-\sin\theta}{\sin\theta\csc\theta} = \csc\theta - \sin\theta\text{.}
\end{equation*}
Justify each step by listing what you used, such as algebra, Pythagorean identity, reciprocal identities, etc.
Activity 8.2.8.
Verify the following identity:
\begin{equation*}
\dfrac{\cos^2\theta}{1+\sin\theta}=1-\sin\theta
\end{equation*}
(a)
Since the left side of the identity is more complicated, we should probably start there. We notice that the right side only involves sine. We will start by converting the cosine into something involving sine. Which identity could help us rewrite \(\cos^2\theta\) into sine?
(b)
Rewrite the numerator of the left-hand side into a function of sine (use the Pythagorean Identity you found in part (a)).
(c)
Take a look at the numerator you now have. How can we factor the numerator?
(d)
Simplify by canceling out terms.
Remark 8.2.9.
As we saw in Activity 8.2.8, knowing how to factor can be very useful when simplifying trigonometric identities.
Remark 8.2.10.
Using the property of conjugates is sometimes helpful in simplifying trigonometric identities. For an expression like \(a+b\text{,}\) the conjugate would be \(a-b\text{.}\) When you multiply conjugates, you often get a more useful expression. Sometimes multiplying by the conjugate will simplify an expression and help in verifying the given identity. Let’s try this method in the next activity.
Activity 8.2.11.
Verify the following identity:
\begin{equation*}
\dfrac{\cos\theta}{1-\sin\theta}=\dfrac{1+\sin\theta}{\cos\theta}\text{.}
\end{equation*}
(a)
Let’s start with the left-hand side. Multiply the left-hand side by the conjugate of \(1-\sin\theta\text{.}\)
(b)
Rewrite the denominator of your fraction in part (a) so that the denominator is written in terms of cosine.
(c)
Simplify your expression from part (b) to get the right-hand side.
Remark 8.2.12.
As we’ve seen from the activities from this section, there are some basic tools that can be helpful when verifying trigonometric identities. Here are some suggestions as you continue to work through these types of problems.
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Work on one side of the identity. It is usually better to start with the more complex side, as it is easier to simplify than to build.
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Look for opportunities to
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Multiply expressions out and combine like terms.
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Factor expressions in a fraction and to cancel common factors.
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Split apart fractions.
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Rewrite multiple fractions using a common denominator, and combine the fractions into a single fraction.
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Simplify two term denominators by substituting with a Pythagorean identity.
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Simplify two term denominators by multiplying numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the binomial denominator.
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Observe which functions are in the final expression, and look for opportunities to use identities that would lead to those functions.
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If all else fails, try rewriting all terms to sines and cosines.
Activity 8.2.13.
Use the tools you have learned in this section to verify each of the identities given below.
(a)
\(2\tan\theta\sec\theta=\dfrac{2\sin\theta}{1-\sin^2\theta}\)
(b)
\(\dfrac{\sec^2\theta-1}{\sec^2\theta}=\sin^2\theta\)
(c)
\(\tan\theta+\dfrac{\cos\theta}{1+\sin\theta}=\sec\theta\)
Subsection 8.2.2 Exercises
Exercises available at
https://library.tbil.org/2025/precalculus/exercises/#/bank/TE2/
