10: Trigonometric Identities and Equations
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Due to the nature of the trigonometric ratios, they have some interesting properties that make them useful in a number of mathematical problem-solving situations. One of the hallmarks of mathematical problem-solving is to change the appearance of the problem without changing its value. Trigonometric identities can be very helpful in changing the appearance of a problem.
The process of demonstrating the validity of a trigonometric identity involves changing one trigonometric expression into another, using a series of clearly defined steps. We'll look at a few examples briefly, but first, let's examine some of the fundamental trigonometric identities.