Sin Cos Formulas in Trigonometry with Examples

Sin Cos Formulas in Trigonometry: Trigonometry, as its name implies, is the study of triangles. It is an important branch of mathematics that studies the relationship between side lengths and angles of the right triangle and also aids in determining the missing side lengths or angles of a triangle. There are six trigonometric ratios or functions: sine, cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant, and cotangent, where cosecant, secant, and cotangent are the reciprocal functions of the other three functions, i.e., sine, cosine, and tangent, respectively.

A trigonometric ratio is defined as the ratio of the side lengths of a right triangle. Trigonometry is employed in various fields in our daily life. It helps to determine the heights of hills or buildings. It is also used in fields like criminology, construction, physics, archaeology, marine engine engineering, etc.

In this article, we’ll explore all trigonometry formulas mostly sin and cos formulas with their examples, and a list of all formulas in trigonometry.

Let us consider a right-angled triangle XYZ, where ∠Y = 90°. Let the angle at vertex Z be θ. The side adjacent to “θ” is called the adjacent side, and the side opposite to “θ” is called the opposite side. A hypotenuse is a side opposite to the right angle or the longest side of a right angle. 

• sin θ = Opposite side/Hypotenuse
• cos θ = Adjacent side/Hypotenuse
• tan θ = Opposite side/Adjacent side
• cosec θ = 1/sin θ = Hypotenuse/Opposite side 
• sec θ = 1/ cos θ = Hypotenuse/Adjacent side
• cot θ = 1/ tan θ = Adjacent side/Opposite side

Sine Formula

The sine of an angle in a right-angled triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the hypotenuse to the given angle. A sine function is represented as “sin”.

sin θ = Opposite side/Hypotenuse

Cosine Formula

The cosine of an angle in a right-angled triangle is the ratio of the length of the adjacent side to the length of the hypotenuse to the given angle. A cosine function is represented as “cos”.

cos θ = Adjacent side/Hypotenuse

Sine and Cosine Functions in Quadrants

• The sine function is positive in the first and second quadrants and negative in the third and fourth quadrants.
• The cosine function is positive in the first and fourth quadrants and negative in the second and third quadrants.

Degrees	Quadrant	Sign of Sine function	Sign of Cosine function
0° to 90°	1st quadrant	+ (positive)	+ (positive)
90° to 180°	2nd quadrant	+ (positive)	– (negative)
180° to 270°	3rd quadrant	– (negative)	– (negative)
270° to 360°	4th quadrant	– (negative)	+ (positive)

The negative angle identity of the sine and cosine functions

• The sine of a negative angle is always equal to the negative sine of the angle.

sin (– θ) = – sin θ

• The cosine of a negative angle is always equal to the cosine of the angle.

cos (– θ) = cos θ

Relation between sine and cosine function 

sin θ = cos (90° – θ)

Reciprocal functions of the sine and cosine functions

• A Cosecant function is the reciprocal function of the sine function.

cosec θ = 1/sin θ

• A Secant function is the reciprocal function of the cosine function.

sec θ = 1/cos θ

Pythagorean identity

sin²θ + cos²θ = 1

Periodic identities of the sine and cosine functions

sin (θ + 2nπ) = sin θ

cos (θ + 2nπ) = cos θ

Double Angle formulae for the sine and cosine functions

sin 2θ = 2 sin θ cos θ

cos 2θ = cos²θ – sin²θ = 2 cos²θ – 1 = 1 – 2 sin²θ

Half-angle identities for the sine and cosine functions

sin (θ/2) = ±√[(1 – cos θ)/2]

cos (θ/2) = ±√[(1 + cos θ)/2]

Triple angle identities for the sine and cosine functions

sin 3θ = 3 sin θ – 4 sin³θ

cos 3θ = 4cos³θ – 3 cos θ

Sum and difference formulas

• Sine function

sin (A + B) = sin A cos B + cos A sin B

sin (A – B) = sin A cos B – cos A sin B

• Cosine function

cos (A + B) =  cos A cos B – sin A sin B

cos (A – B) = cos A cos B + sin A sin B

Law of sines or Sine Rule 

The law of sines of sine rule is a trigonometric law that gives a relationship between the side lengths and angles of a triangle.

a/sin A = b/sin B = c/sin C

Where a, b, and c are the lengths of the three sides of the triangle ABC, and A, B, and C are the angles.

Law of cosines 

The law of cosines of cosine rule is used to determine the missing or unknown angles or side lengths of a triangle.

a² = b² + c² – 2bc cos A

b² = c² + a² – 2ca cos B

c² = a² + b² – 2ab cos C

Where a, b, and c are the lengths of the three sides of the triangle ABC, and A, B, and C are the angles.

Here is the Sin and Cos Formulas Table/ List for various angles in degrees and in radians:

Sin Cos Formulas List

Problem 1: If cos α = 24/25, then find the value of sin α.

Solution:

Given,

cos α = 24/25

From the Pythagorean identities we have;

cos² θ + sin² θ = 1

(24/25)² + sin² α = 1

sin²α = 1 – (24/25)²

sin² α = 1 – (576/625) = (625 – 576)/625

sin² α = (625 – 576)/625 = 49/626

sin α = √49/625 = ±7/25

Hence, sin α = ±7/25.

Problem 2: Prove sin 2A and cos 2A formulae, if ∠A= 30°.

Solution:

Given, ∠A= 30°

We know that,

1) sin 2A = 2 sin A cos A

sin 2(30°) = 2 sin 30° cos 30°

sin 60° = 2 × (1/2) × (√3/2)  {Since, sin 30° = 1/2, cos 30° = √3/2 and sin 60° = √3/2}

√3/2 = √3/2

L.H.S = R.H.S

2) cos 2A = 2cos²A – 1

cos 2(30°) = 2cos²(30°) – 1

cos 60° = 2(√3/2)² – 1 = 3/2 – 1 {Since, cos 60° = 1/2 and cos 30° = √3/2}

1/2 = 1/2

L.H.S = R.H.S

Hence proved.

Problem 3: Find the value of cos x, if tan x = 3/4.

Solution:

Given, tan x = 3/4

We know that,

tan x = opposite side/adjacent side = 3/4

To find the hypotenuse, we use Pythagoras theorem:

hypotenuse² = opposite² + adjacent²

H²= 3² + 4²

H² = 9 + 16 = 25 

H = √25 = 5

Now, cos x = adjacent side/hypotenuse

cos x = 4/5

Thus, the value of cos x is 4/5.

Problem 4: Find ∠C (in degrees) and ∠A (in degrees), if ∠B = 45°, BC = 15 in, and AC = 12 in.

Solution:

Given: ∠B = 45°, BC = a = 15 in, and AC = b = 12 in.

From the law of sines, we have

a/sin A = b/sin B = c/sin C

⇒ a/sin A = b/sin B

⇒ 15/sin A = 12/sin 45°

⇒ 15/sin A = 12/(1/√2)

⇒ 15/sin A = 12√2 = 16.97

⇒  sin A = 15/16.97 = 0.8839

⇒  ∠A = sin^-1(0.8839) = 62.11°

We know that, sum of interior angles of a triangle is 180°.

So, ∠A + ∠B + ∠C = 180°

⇒ 62.11° + 45° + ∠C = 180°

⇒ ∠C = 180° – (62.11° + 45°) = 72.89°

Hence, ∠A = 62.11° and ∠C = 72.89°.

Problem 5: Prove half-angle identities of the cosine function.

Solution:

The half-angle identity of the cosine function is :

cos (θ/2) = ±√[(1 + cos θ)/2]

From double angle identities, we have,

cos 2A = 2 cos²A – 1

Now replace A with θ/2 on both sides

⇒ cos 2(θ/2) = 2 cos² (θ/2) – 1

⇒ cos θ = 2 cos² (θ/2) – 1

⇒ 2cos²(θ/2) = cos θ + 1

⇒ cos²(θ/2) = (cos θ + 1)/2

⇒ cos (θ/2) = ±√[(1 + cos θ)/2]

Hence proved.

1. Given sin⁡ θ = 3/5. Find cos θ.

2. Prove the identity sin⁡(2A) = 2 sin⁡A cos⁡A for A=45∘.

3. If cos⁡ α = 5/13. Find sin(2α).

4. Solve for θ if sin θ = cos(90∘−θ).

5. If tan ⁡β = 2. Find sin ⁡β and cos⁡ β using the Pythagorean identity.

What are the basic sine and cosine formulas in trigonometry?

The basic sine and cosine formulas are sin ⁡θ = Opposite/Hypotenuse and cos ⁡θ = Adjacent/Hypotenuse, where θ is an angle in a right-angled triangle.

How do you find the sine and cosine of special angles?

Special angles such as 0∘, 30∘, 45∘, 60∘, and 90∘ have specific sine and cosine values that can be remembered using trigonometric tables or unit circle concepts.

What is the relationship between sine and cosine functions?

The sine and cosine functions are related by the identity sin ⁡θ = cos⁡(90∘- θ) and the Pythagorean identity sin⁡² θ+cos⁡² θ = 1.

How do you use the double angle formulas for sine and cosine?

The double angle formulas are sin⁡(2θ) = 2sin⁡θcos⁡θ and cos⁡(2θ)=cos⁡² θ – sin⁡² θ. These are used to express trigonometric functions of double angles in terms of single angles.

How do you find the values of sine and cosine for angles in different quadrants?

The signs of sine and cosine functions depend on the quadrant in which the angle lies:

• First Quadrant: sin⁡ θ > 0 and cos θ > 0
• Second Quadrant: sin ⁡θ > 0 and cos θ < 0
• Third Quadrant: sin⁡θ < 0 and cosθ < 0
• Fourth Quadrant: sin⁡θ < 0 and cosθ > 0