They are used to help simplify trigonometric equations before solving them
Sometimes you may see identities written with the symbol ≡
This means 'identical to'
What trigonometric identities do I need to know?
The two trigonometric identities you must know are
Where do the trigonometric identities come from?
You do not need to know the proof for these identities but it is a good idea to know where they come from
From SOHCAHTOA we know that
This is not included in the formula booklet but is useful to remember
How are the trigonometric identities used?
Most commonly trigonometric identities are used to change an equation into a form that allows it to be solved
They can also be used to prove further identities such as the double angle formulae
Exam Tip
If you are asked to show that one thing is identical (≡) to another, look at what parts are missing – for example, if tan x has gone it must have been substituted