Sine/cosine sum and difference formulas

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The discussion focuses on proving the sine and cosine sum and difference formulas for any angle, not just those between 0 and 2π. Participants mention using Euler's equation, triangles, and the trigonometric circle for their proofs. One contributor presents a proof involving the distance formula and coordinates on the trigonometric circle, leading to the derivation of sine and cosine identities. The discussion highlights the relationship between sine and cosine functions when angles are negative or exceed 2π, emphasizing the symmetry in the sine graph. The conversation concludes with a confirmation of the established identities and their applicability.
Werg22
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How to proove those formulas for any angle? So far all the proofs I've found are for angles between 0 and 2pi...
 
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Surely you know that for any angle less than 0 or greater than 2pi there is a corresponsing angle between 0 and 2pi...

If the angle x is less than 0, Use 2pi-x.
If the angle x is greater than 2pi, Use 0+x
 
Werg22 said:
How to proove those formulas for any angle? So far all the proofs I've found are for angles between 0 and 2pi...
...which ones did you find?
 
Sorry, i meant pi/2... (thus maximum of pi for the resultant angle)

I found one with euler's equation, another with triangles and the other with the trigonometric circle.

My solution was;

\sqrt{(\cos({{\theta} \pm {\sigma}}) - \cos{\theta})^{2} + (\sin({{\theta} \pm {\sigma}}) - \sin{\theta})^{2}} = \sqrt {({cos{\sigma} - 1})^{2} - \sin^{2}{\sigma}}

And this later simplifies to

cos({{\theta} \pm {\sigma}}) = \cos{\theta}\cos{\sigma} \pm \sin{\theta}\sin{\sigma}

But now I can't go further...
 
Last edited:
Alright I think I thought of a good proof

With this identity (this is using the distance formula and the coordinates on the trigonmetric circle)

\sqrt{(\cos({{\theta} \pm {\sigma}}) - \cos{\theta})^{2} + (\sin({{\theta} \pm {\sigma}}) - \sin{\theta})^{2}} = \sqrt {({cos{\sigma} - 1})^{2} - \sin^{2}{\sigma}}

We can derive

\sin(\theta \pm \sigma) = \cos \sigma \sin \theta \pm \cos \theta \sin \sigma

With this identity

\sin -a = -\sin a

We can compare \sin(\theta - \sigma) and \sin(\sigma - \theta) As being opposite.

(\sin(\theta \pm \sigma) = \cos \sigma \sin \theta \pm \cos \theta \sin \sigma) =-(\sin(\sigma \pm \theta) = \cos \theta \sin \sigma \pm \cos \sigma \sin \theta)

The only possible solution is

\sin(\theta - \sigma) = \cos \sigma \sin \theta - \cos \theta \sin \sigma

and

\sin(\sigma - \theta) = \cos \theta \sin \sigma - \cos \sigma \sin \thetaAnd since sin (a+b) is not equal to sin(a-b), exept if one of the angle is pi, thus

\sin(\theta + \sigma) = \cos \sigma \sin \theta + \cos \theta \sin \sigma

The result stays the same if one of the angle is pi/2.

The expansion for cos(a+b) and cos (a-b) is easy to derive once we have established the expansion for sin.

Q.E.D.?
 
Last edited:
Draw the sin graph, notice the symmetry, all's well.
 

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