We have already learned a number of formulas useful for expanding or simplifying trigonometric expressions, but sometimes we may need to express the product of cosine and sine as a sum. We can use the product-to-sum formulas, which express products of trigonometric functions as sums. Let’s investigate the cosine identity first and then the sine identity.
Expressing Products as Sums for Cosine
We can derive the product-to-sum formula from the sum and difference identities for cosine. If we add the two equations, we get:
Use the product-to-sum formula to write the product as a sum or difference: cos(2θ)cos(4θ).
Solution
Expressing the Product of Sine and Cosine as a Sum
Next, we will derive the product-to-sum formula for sine and cosine from the sum and difference formulas for sine. If we add the sum and difference identities, we get:
Use the product-to-sum formula to write the product as a sum: sin(x+y)cos(x−y).
Solution
Expressing Products of Sines in Terms of Cosine
Expressing the product of sines in terms of cosine is also derived from the sum and difference identities for cosine. In this case, we will first subtract the two cosine formulas:
Use the product-to-sum formula to evaluate cos1211πcos12π.
Solution
Expressing Sums as Products
Some problems require the reverse of the process we just used. The sum-to-product formulas allow us to express sums of sine or cosine as products. These formulas can be derived from the product-to-sum identities. For example, with a few substitutions, we can derive the sum-to-product identity for sine. Let 2u+v=α and 2u−v=β.
Then,
α+β=2u+v+2u−v=22u=uα−β=2u+v−2u−v=22v=v
Thus, replacing α and β in the product-to-sum formula with the substitute expressions, we have
sinαcosβ=21[sin(α+β)+sin(α−β)]sin(2u+v)cos(2u−v)=21[sinu+sinv]2sin(2u+v)cos(2u−v)=sinu+sinvSubstitute for(α+β) and (α−β)
The other sum-to-product identities are derived similarly.
A General Note: Sum-to-Product Formulas
The sum-to-product formulas are as follows:
sinα+sinβ=2sin(2α+β)cos(2α−β)
sinα−sinβ=2sin(2α−β)cos(2α+β)
cosα−cosβ=−2sin(2α+β)sin(2α−β)
cosα+cosβ=2cos(2α+β)cos(2α−β)
Example 4: Writing the Difference of Sines as a Product
Write the following difference of sines expression as a product: sin(4θ)−sin(2θ).
Solution
We begin by writing the formula for the difference of sines.
sinα−sinβ=2sin(2α−β)cos(2α+β)
Substitute the values into the formula, and simplify.
Recall that verifying trigonometric identities has its own set of rules. The procedures for solving an equation are not the same as the procedures for verifying an identity. When we prove an identity, we pick one side to work on and make substitutions until that side is transformed into the other side.
Example 7: Verifying the Identity Using Double-Angle Formulas and Reciprocal Identities
Verify the identity csc2θ−2=sin2θcos(2θ).
Solution
For verifying this equation, we are bringing together several of the identities. We will use the double-angle formula and the reciprocal identities. We will work with the right side of the equation and rewrite it until it matches the left side.
From the sum and difference identities, we can derive the product-to-sum formulas and the sum-to-product formulas for sine and cosine.
We can use the product-to-sum formulas to rewrite products of sines, products of cosines, and products of sine and cosine as sums or differences of sines and cosines.
We can also derive the sum-to-product identities from the product-to-sum identities using substitution.
We can use the sum-to-product formulas to rewrite sum or difference of sines, cosines, or products sine and cosine as products of sines and cosines.
Trigonometric expressions are often simpler to evaluate using the formulas.
The identities can be verified using other formulas or by converting the expressions to sines and cosines. To verify an identity, we choose the more complicated side of the equals sign and rewrite it until it is transformed into the other side.
Glossary
product-to-sum formula
a trigonometric identity that allows the writing of a product of trigonometric functions as a sum or difference of trigonometric functions
sum-to-product formula
a trigonometric identity that allows, by using substitution, the writing of a sum of trigonometric functions as a product of trigonometric functions
Section Exercises
1. Starting with the product to sum formula sinαcosβ=21[sin(α+β)+sin(α−β)], explain how to determine the formula for cosαsinβ.
2. Explain two different methods of calculating cos(195∘)cos(105∘), one of which uses the product to sum. Which method is easier?
3. Explain a situation where we would convert an equation from a sum to a product and give an example.
4. Explain a situation where we would convert an equation from a product to a sum, and give an example.
For the following exercises, rewrite the product as a sum or difference.
5. 16sin(16x)sin(11x)
6. 20cos(36t)cos(6t)
7. 2sin(5x)cos(3x)
8. 10cos(5x)sin(10x)
9. sin(−x)sin(5x)
10. sin(3x)cos(5x)
For the following exercises, rewrite the sum or difference as a product.
11. cos(6t)+cos(4t)
12. sin(3x)+sin(7x)
13. cos(7x)+cos(−7x)
14. sin(3x)−sin(−3x)
15. cos(3x)+cos(9x)
16. sinh−sin(3h)
For the following exercises, evaluate the product for the following using a sum or difference of two functions. Evaluate exactly.
17. cos(45∘)cos(15∘)
18. cos(45∘)sin(15∘)
19. sin(−345∘)sin(−15∘)
20. sin(195∘)cos(15∘)
21. sin(−45∘)sin(−15∘)
For the following exercises, evaluate the product using a sum or difference of two functions. Leave in terms of sine and cosine.
22. cos(23∘)sin(17∘)
23. 2sin(100∘)sin(20∘)
24. 2sin(−100∘)sin(−20∘)
25. sin(213∘)cos(8∘)
26. 2cos(56∘)cos(47∘)
For the following exercises, rewrite the sum as a product of two functions. Leave in terms of sine and cosine.
27. sin(76∘)+sin(14∘)
28. cos(58∘)−cos(12∘)
29. sin(101∘)−sin(32∘)
30. cos(100∘)+cos(200∘)
31. sin(−1∘)+sin(−2∘)
For the following exercises, prove the identity.
32. cos(a−b)cos(a+b)=1+tanatanb1−tanatanb
33. 4sin(3x)cos(4x)=2sin(7x)−2sinx
34. sin(−6x)6cos(8x)sin(2x)=−3sin(10x)csc(6x)+3
35. sinx+sin(3x)=4sinxcos2x
36. 2(cos3x−cosxsin2x)=cos(3x)+cosx
37. 2tanxcos(3x)=secx(sin(4x)−sin(2x))
38. cos(a+b)+cos(a−b)=2cosacosb
For the following exercises, rewrite the sum as a product of two functions or the product as a sum of two functions. Give your answer in terms of sines and cosines. Then evaluate the final answer numerically, rounded to four decimal places.
39. cos(58∘)+cos(12∘)
40. sin(2∘)−sin(3∘)
41. cos(44∘)−cos(22∘)
42. cos(176∘)sin(9∘)
43. sin(−14∘)sin(85∘)
For the following exercises, algebraically determine whether each of the given expressions is a true identity. If it is not an identity, replace the right-hand side with an expression equivalent to the left side. Verify the results by graphing both expressions on a calculator.
44. 2sin(2x)sin(3x)=cosx−cos(5x)
45. cos(6θ)−cos(10θ)cos(10θ)+cos(6θ)=cot(2θ)cot(8θ)
46. cos(3x)+cos(5x)sin(3x)−sin(5x)=tanx
47. 2cos(2x)cosx+sin(2x)sinx=2sinx
48. sin(2x)−sin(4x)sin(2x)+sin(4x)=−tan(3x)cotx
For the following exercises, simplify the expression to one term, then graph the original function and your simplified version to verify they are identical.
49. cos(9t)+cos(3t)sin(9t)−sin(3t)
50. 2sin(8x)cos(6x)−sin(2x)
51. sinxsin(3x)−sinx
52. sin(5x)+sin(3x)cos(5x)+cos(3x)
53. sinxcos(15x)−cosxsin(15x)
For the following exercises, prove the following sum-to-product formulas.
54. sinx−siny=2sin(2x−y)cos(2x+y)
55. cosx+cosy=2cos(2x+y)cos(2x−y)
For the following exercises, prove the identity.
56. sin(6x)−sin(4x)sin(6x)+sin(4x)=tan(5x)cotx
57. cos(3x)−cosxcos(3x)+cosx=−cot(2x)cotx
58. sin(6y)−sin(4y)cos(6y)+cos(8y)=cotycos(7y)sec(5y)
59. sin(2y)+sin(4y)cos(2y)−cos(4y)=tany
60. cos(10x)+cos(2x)sin(10x)−sin(2x)=tan(4x)
61. cosx−cos(3x)=4sin2xcosx
62. (cos(2x)−cos(4x))2+(sin(4x)+sin(2x))2=4sin2(3x)
63. tan(4π−t)=1+tant1−tant