Proof of cos(A+B) and sin(A+B) Identities

[Ryoukomaru]

How can you prove:
cos(A+B)=cosAcosB-sinAsinB
and similarly
sin(A+B)=sinAcosB+cosAsinB
If the proofs arent very complicated, I would appreciate you giving me hints first so maybe i can work them out on my own.

Btw i am looking for an algebraic proof, not one with graphs & triangles.

 

[arildno]

You'd better stick with a perfectly good graphical proof.
The simplest "algebraical" proof involves the complex exponential.

 

[dextercioby]

I think the graphical proof is much more elegant than the one involving Euler's formula...

Geometry is elegant...

Daniel.

 

[arildno]

I agree; I should have written "perfectly better" rather than "perfectly good"..

 

[Ryoukomaru]

... involving Euler's formula...
Daniel.

woohh there is a "hint" now.

 

[Kahsi]

http://home.tiscali.se/21355861/bilder/proof.PNG


(PQ)^2=(cosu-cosv)^2+(sinu-sinv)^2

and with cosine
(PQ)^2=1^2+1^2-2*1*1*cos(u-v)

we get

(cosu-cosv)^2+(sinu-sinv)^2=1^2+1^2-2*1*1*cos(u-v)

cos^2u-2cosu*cosv+cos^2v+sin^2u-2sinu*sinv+sin^2v=2-2cos(u-v)

You know that 1 - cos^2x = sin^2x and that 1-sin^2x=cos^2x

1-2cosu*cosv+1-2sinu*sinv=2-2cos(u-v)

2cos(u-v)=2cosu*cosv + 2sinu*sinv

cos(u-v)=cosu*cosv + sinu*sinv

 

[dextercioby]

Believe me,there's a much more elegant way of doing it geometrically...Anyways,he called for an algebraic proof...Without drawigs and angles...

Daniel.

 

[HallsofIvy]

You CAN define cosine and sine by

1. y(x)= sin(x) is the function satisfying the differential equation d²y/dx²= -y and y(0)= 0, y'(0)= 1.

2. y(x)= cos(x) is the function satisfying the differential equation d²y/dx² = -y and y(0)= 1, y'(0)= 0.
It's easy to show that sin(x) and cos(x) are independent solutions so any solution to that equation can be written as C₁cos(x)+ C₂sin(x). In fact, if y satisfies y"= y, y(0)= A, y'(0)= B, then y(x)= Acos(x)+ B sin(x).

Let y= (cos(x))' (the derivative of cosine). Since cosine satisfies a second order equation, it is twice differentiable and y'= (cos(x))"= -cos(x). That means that y is twice differentiable and y"= -(cos(x))'= -y. y(0)= 0 since the derivative of cosine at 0 is 0) and y'(0)= -cos(0)= -1. Thus, y= 0cos(x)+(-1)sin(x)= -sin(x). Similarly, one can prove that (sin(x))'= cos(x).

Now, let y= sin(x+a). Then y'= cos(x+a) and y"= -sin(x+a)= -y. That is, y also satisfies y"= -y. y(0)= sin(a), y'(0)= cos(a) so y(x)= sin(x+a)= sin(a)cos(x)+ cos(a)sin(x). Let x= b and we have sin(a+b)= sin(a)cos(b)+ cos(a)sin(b).

Let y= cos(x+a). Then y'= -sin(x+a) and y"= -cos(x+a)= -y. This y also satisfies y"= -y. y(0)= cos(a), y"(0)= -sin(a) so y(x)= cos(a)cos(x)- sin(a)sin(x). Let x= b and we have cos(a+b)= cos(a)cos(b)- sin(a)sin(b).

Those are the simplest proofs I know.

 

[arildno]

Halls:
You are, of course, right.
However, I'm not quite sure how we might prove the 2(pi)-periodicity of cos&sine if we define these functions (such a proof ought necessarily exist).
I might be dense, but I would appreciate if you could sketch how to prove the periodicity of the two functions.

 

[dextercioby]

Defining \sin 2\pi=0 and \cos 2\pi=1,he can use the formula he just proved
\sin (a+2\pi)=...=\sin a

He woul then go on and associate a geometrical interpretation (using the trigonometric circle) and that would be it...

Daniel.

 

[arildno]

And HOW do you legitimize that move??
Why does the diff. eq. definitions accept that?

You have basically placed more restraints upon a second-order differential equation solution than those restraints needed for a unique solution.

 

[dextercioby]

What does that have to do with the diff.eq?I'm discussing the functions that came out as a basis that span the space of solutions...
I'm not putting those constraints in the beginning,before solving the diff.eq.,but afterwards,that is FOR MY PURPOSE I AM SELECTING THE PERIODIC SOLUTIONS...

I'm not affecting the diff.eq. in no way...

Daniel.

 

[CrankFan]

Apostol proves those identities from axioms that he calls fundamental properties of sine and cosine:

1. sine and cosine are defined everywhere on the real line.
2. cos 0 = sin 1/2pi = 1 and cos pi = -1
3. cos (y - x) = cos y cos x + sin y sin x
4. for 0 < x < pi, 0 < cos x < sin x / x < 1 / cos x

I thought it was worth mention since you seemed interested in a deductive proof; if it isn't what you had in mind, ignore it.

 

[arildno]

Sure you are.
1) HallsofIvy's UNIQUE solutions are found by placing the demands:
sin(0)=1, sin'(0)=1, cos(0)=1, cos'(0)=0
You haven't got any solution space to wiggle in here.
It is these basis solutions you need to show are periodic.


You have a solution space of the homogenous diff.eq; those constraints pick out which unique solution you're after.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Arildno, I wrote a paper on defining sine and cosine in terms of an initial value problem in which I proved the periodicity.

Here's a link to an e-copy:
http://academic.gallaudet.edu/courses/MAT/MAT000Ivew.nsf/ID/918f9bc4dda7eb1c8525688700561c74/$file/SINS.pdf

 

[dextercioby]

Nice work,Halls!And useful,too.

Daniel.

 

[arildno]

Arildno, I wrote a paper on defining sine and cosine in terms of an initial value problem in which I proved the periodicity.

Here's a link to an e-copy:
http://academic.gallaudet.edu/courses/MAT/MAT000Ivew.nsf/ID/918f9bc4dda7eb1c8525688700561c74/$file/SINS.pdf[/QUOTE]
This was great, HallsofIvy!
Thanks.

 

[Ryoukomaru]

Well today, I learned that you can prove the identities by tranformation Matrices. Its a neat way of proving them without any drawings.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Good.

What tranformation Matrices are you talking about. I learned "rotation matrices" by using the sum formulas but I imagine it could be done the other way around!

 

[dextercioby]

The use of "sine" and "cosine" to parametrize finite angle rotations round an axis is dependent of the way the functions are defined...
And viceversa...You can define the (circular) trigonometrical functions using finite angle rotations. (actually the SO(2) group (it's the group axiom regarding matrix multiplication that proves addition formula)).
So it's an equivalence.It woudln't be fair if u said A->B and forget about B->A...

Daniel.

 

[Ryoukomaru]

I was also talking about rotation matrices by a certain angle \theta.
As you know the rotation matrix is:
T=\left[<br /> \begin{array}{cc}<br /> cos\theta &amp; -sin\theta \\<br /> sin\theta &amp; cos\theta<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br />

Now two transformation by different angles, say \alpha and \beta is the same as a transformation by the sum of angles. So all i had two do was multiply the two rotation matrices for each angles and match the terms with the matrix:
T=\left[<br /> \begin{array}{cc}<br /> cos(\alpha+\beta) &amp; -sin(\alpha+\beta) \\<br /> sin(\alpha+\beta) &amp; cos(\alpha+\beta)<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br />

I am not sure if this is an official proof for the identities. Actually I discovered this proof during an exam when i was told to prove them by the matrices. So I played around and came up with this.

 

[dextercioby]

Guess what??I was talking about the same thing...


Daniel.

 

[Ryoukomaru]

Well you use so many heavy mathematical & scientific terms, sometimes i don't understand what you are trying to say ^^