Sine and Cosine Addition Formulas

A series of free, online Trigonometry Lessons with videos, solutions, examples, worksheets, and activities to help Trigonometry students.

The following diagram gives the sine and cosine addition and subtraction formulas. Scroll down the page for examples and solutions.

 

Cosine Addition Formula

The cosine addition formula calculates the cosine of an angle that is either the sum or difference of two other angles. It arises from the law of cosines and the distance formula. By using the cosine addition formula, the cosine of both the sum and difference of two angles can be found with the two angles' sines and cosines.

This video shows the formula for deriving the cosine of a sum of two angles.

cos(A + B) = cosAcosB − sinAsinB

We will use the unit circle definitions for sine and cosine, the Pythagorean identity, the distance formula.

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How to derive the cosine of a difference formula?

A proof that cos (A − B) = cosAcosB + sinAsinB.
The main idea is to create a triangle whose angle is a difference of two other angles, whose adjacent sides, out of simplicity, are both 1. By using both the distance formula and the law of cosines, we can get an equation where cos(A − B) is present.

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Sine Addition Formula

Starting with the cofunction identities, the sine addition formula is derived by applying the cosine difference formula.

There are two main differences from the cosine formula:

1. the sine addition formula adds both terms, where the cosine addition formula subtracts and the subtraction formula adds; and
2. the sine formulas have sin-sin and cos-cos.

Both formulas find values for angles.

How to derive the sine of a sum formula?
We will use the cofunction identities and the cosine of a difference formula.
sin(A + B) = sinAcosB + cosAsinB

The derivation of the sum and difference identities for cosine and sine.
cos(A + B) = cosAcosB − sinAsinB
cos (A − B) = cosAcosB + sinAsinB
sin(A + B) = sinAcosB + cosAsinB
sin(A − B) = sinAcosB − cosAsinB

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Using the Sine and Cosine Addition and Subtraction Formulas to Prove Identities

Applying the cosine addition and sine addition formulas to prove the cofunction identities, add π and supplementary angle identities.

Using the formulas,
we see that sin(π/2-x) = cos(x), cos(π/2-x) = sin(x);
that sin(x + π) = −sin(x), cos(x + π) = −cos(x);
and that sin(π − x) = sin(x), cos(π − x) = −cos(x).
The formulas also give the tangent of a difference formula, for tan(alpha − beta).

How to use the sine and cosine addition formulas to prove the cofunction identities?
In this video, we will verify a Trig identity by using the basic identities and the identity for the cosine of a sum or difference.

We prove that (cos(x+y))/(cos(x − y)) = (cot y − tan x)/(cot y + tan x) using a trig proof.

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Using the Sine and Cosine Addition and Subtraction Formulas to determine function values

This video provides an example of using the sine sum and difference identity to determine a sine function value.

Determine the exact value of sin(105 degrees) using the sum and difference identity.

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This video provides an example of using the cosine sum and difference identity to determine a cosine function value.

Determine the exact value of cos(13/12π) using the sum and difference identity.

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Use the sum and difference identities for sine to determine the function values.
Determine sin(A − B), given sin A = 4/5 in quadrant II and cos B = −5/13 in quadrant III.

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Use the sum and difference identities for cosine to determine the function values.

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