National 5 Maths: Trigonometric Identities

Course content

  • Use the identity \(sin^2\ x + cos^2\ x = 1\)
  • Use the identity \(tan\ x = \large \frac{sin\ x}{cos\ x} \normalsize \)

Key ideas

  • An identity is not the same as an equation.
    • Equations can be solved to find the value, or values, of the variable that make it true.
    • Identities are always true, for every value of the variable. They are statements of fact.
  • The two Nat 5 trig identities are not on the formulae list. You will need to learn them.

Textbook page references

Proof: \(sin^2 x + cos^2 x = 1\)

You don't need to learn this proof, but some of you will find it interesting to know why the identity is true.

Imagine a right-angled triangle with \(x^\circ\) as one of its angles. We know that \(sin\ x=\large\frac{opp}{hyp}\normalsize\) and \(cos\ x=\large\frac{adj}{hyp}\normalsize.\)

Now let's use this to prove that the identity is true for any acute angle \(x^\circ.\)

$$ \begin{eqnarray} sin^2 x + cos^2 x &=& \left(\frac{opp}{hyp}\right)^2+\left(\frac{adj}{hyp}\right)^2 \\[9pt] &=& \frac{opp^2+adj^2}{hyp^2} \\[9pt] &=& \frac{hyp^2}{hyp^2} \:\:\small\textsf{(by Pythagoras)}\normalsize \\[9pt] &=& 1 \end{eqnarray} $$

In fact, this identity is also true for any non-acute angle, but that proof is beyond National 5 level.

Proof: \(tan\ x = \large \frac{sin\ x}{cos\ x} \normalsize \)

Again, you don't have to learn this proof, but the techniques that it uses are useful.

We will start with the right hand side and simplify it to the left hand side.

$$ \begin{eqnarray} \frac{sin\ x}{cos\ x} &=& \frac{opp}{hyp} \div \frac{adj}{hyp} \\[9pt] &=& \frac{opp}{hyp} \times \frac{hyp}{adj}\\[9pt] &=& \frac{opp}{\cancel{hyp}} \times \frac{\cancel{hyp}}{adj} \\[9pt] &=& \frac{opp}{adj} \\[9pt] &=& tan\ x \end{eqnarray} $$

This identity is also true for any non-acute angle, but again that proof is beyond N5.


Recommended revision course


A great resource to prepare for your N5 Maths exams. Get £10 discount with code 'Maths.scot'. Learn more 

Example 1 (non-calculator)

SQA National 5 2016 Paper 1 Question 11

Simplify:  \( tan^2 x^\circ\ cos^2\ x^\circ \)

Show your working.

Example 2 (non-calculator)

SQA National 5 2018 Paper 1 Question 18

Express \( sin x^\circ\ cos x^\circ\ tan x^\circ \) in its simplest form. Show your working.

Example 3 (calculator)

SQA National 5 2019 Paper 2 Question 17

Expand and simplify \( \left(sin x^\circ+cos x^\circ\right)^2 \)

Show your working.

Recommended student books

Zeta Maths: National 5+ practice book 
Leckie: National 5 Maths textbook 

Example 4 (calculator)

SQA National 5 2021 Paper 2 Question 16

Expand and simplify \(cos\ x^\circ\ \left(tan\ x^\circ +1\right)\)

Show your working.

Example 5 (calculator)

SQA National 5 2022 Paper 2 Question 13

Simplify \(\large\frac{sin\ x^\circ+\ 2\ cos\ x^\circ}{cos\ x^\circ}\)

Recommended revision guides

How to Pass National 5 Maths 
BrightRED N5 Maths Study Guide 

Example 6 (calculator)

SQA National 5 2023 Paper 2 Question 13

Simplify \(2\,sin^2\,x^\circ +2\,cos^2\,x^\circ\small.\) Show your working.

Example 7 (calculator)

Solve the equation \( 3\tiny\ \normalsize sin\ x=2\tiny\ \normalsize cos\ x \), for \(0 \leq x \lt 360^\circ.\)

Example 8 (non-calculator)

Prove that, for all values of \(x^\circ,\)
\( cos^2\, x\ \left(1+tan^2\,x\right) = 1\)

Past paper questions

2016 Paper 1 Q11
2018 Paper 1 Q18
2019 Paper 2 Q17 (with expansion)
2021 Paper 2 Q16
2022 Paper 2 Q13
2023 Paper 2 Q13

Other great resources

Video - Mr Graham Maths
Video - Mearns Academy
Notes and videos - Mistercorzi
Notes - BBC Bitesize
Notes and exercises - Maths 777
1. Simpler trig identities
2. Harder trig identities
Practice questions - Maths Hunter
Exercises - Larkhall Academy
Pages 30-31 Ex 7

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