angle sum identity


It is desired to prove the identities

sin(θ+ϕ)=sinθcosϕ+cosθsinϕ

and

cos(θ+ϕ)=cosθcosϕ-sinθsinϕ

Consider the figure

where we have

  • AadCcb

  • BbaDdc

  • ad=dc=1.

Also, everything is Euclidean, and in particular, the interior anglesMathworldPlanetmath of any triangle sum to π.

Call Aad=θ and baB=ϕ. From the triangle , we have Ada=π2-θ and Ddc=π2-ϕ, while the degenerate angle AdD=π, so that

adc=θ+ϕ

We have, therefore, that the area of the pink parallelogramMathworldPlanetmath is sin(θ+ϕ). On the other hand, we can rearrange things thus:

In this figure we see an equal pink area, but it is composed of two pieces, of areas sinϕcosθ and cosϕsinθ. Adding, we have

sin(θ+ϕ)=sinϕcosθ+cosϕsinθ

which gives us the first. From definitions, it then also follows that sin(θ+π/2)=cos(θ), and sin(θ+π)=-sin(θ). Writing

cos(θ+ϕ)=sin(θ+ϕ+π/2)=sin(θ)cos(ϕ+π/2)+cos(θ)sin(ϕ+π/2)=sin(θ)sin(ϕ+π)+cos(θ)cos(ϕ)=cosθcosϕ-sinθsinϕ
Title angle sum identity
Canonical name AngleSumIdentity
Date of creation 2013-03-22 12:50:36
Last modified on 2013-03-22 12:50:36
Owner mathcam (2727)
Last modified by mathcam (2727)
Numerical id 14
Author mathcam (2727)
Entry type Theorem
Classification msc 51-00
Related topic ProofOfDeMoivreIdentity
Related topic DoubleAngleIdentity