Trigonometry Examples Simplifying Trigonometric Expressions

Expand Using Sum/Difference Formulas

$\cos (75)$

Step 1

First, split the angle into two angles where the values of the six trigonometric functions are known. In this case, $75$ can be split into $30 + 45$ .

$\cos (30 + 45)$

Step 2

Use the sum formula for cosine to simplify the expression. The formula states that $\cos (A + B) = - (\cos (A) \cos (B) + \sin (A) \sin (B))$ .

$\cos (45) \cdot \cos (30) - \sin (45) \cdot \sin (30)$

Step 3

Remove parentheses.

$\cos (45) \cdot \cos (30) - \sin (45) \cdot \sin (30)$

Step 4

Simplify each term.

Tap for more steps...

Step 4.1

The exact value of $\cos (45)$ is $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \cdot \cos (30) - \sin (45) \cdot \sin (30)$

Step 4.2

The exact value of $\cos (30)$ is $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} - \sin (45) \cdot \sin (30)$

Step 4.3

Multiply $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 4.3.1

Multiply $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ by $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{2} \sqrt{3}}{2 \cdot 2} - \sin (45) \cdot \sin (30)$

Step 4.3.2

Combine using the product rule for radicals.

$\frac{\sqrt{2 \cdot 3}}{2 \cdot 2} - \sin (45) \cdot \sin (30)$

Step 4.3.3

Multiply $2$ by $3$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{6}}{2 \cdot 2} - \sin (45) \cdot \sin (30)$

Step 4.3.4

Multiply $2$ by $2$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{6}}{4} - \sin (45) \cdot \sin (30)$

Step 4.4

The exact value of $\sin (45)$ is $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{6}}{4} - \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \cdot \sin (30)$

Step 4.5

The exact value of $\sin (30)$ is $\frac{1}{2}$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{6}}{4} - \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{2}$

Step 4.6

Multiply $- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{2}$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 4.6.1

Multiply $\frac{1}{2}$ by $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{6}}{4} - \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2 \cdot 2}$

Step 4.6.2

Multiply $2$ by $2$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{6}}{4} - \frac{\sqrt{2}}{4}$

Step 5

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{\sqrt{6} - \sqrt{2}}{4}$

Step 6

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$\frac{\sqrt{6} - \sqrt{2}}{4}$

Decimal Form:

$0.25881904 \dots$

Enter YOUR Problem

Expand Using Sum/Difference Formulas

Simplifying Trigonometric Expressions

How to Use Step-by-Step Examples

Why use Mathway?

Explore More Trigonometry Help