JEE Main • Mathematics

Trigonometry

Complete Revision Summary | JEE Main 2025–26

High Weightage • 4–6 Questions Expected

Trigonometric Ratios of Compound Angles

Addition Formulas
sin(A + B) = sin A cos B + cos A sin B
sin(A − B) = sin A cos B − cos A sin B
cos(A + B) = cos A cos B − sin A sin B
cos(A − B) = cos A cos B + sin A sin B
Tangent Formulas
tan(A + B) = \frac{\tan A + \tan B}{1 - \tan A \tan B}
tan(A − B) = \frac{\tan A - \tan B}{1 + \tan A \tan B}
cot(A + B) = \frac{cot A cot B - 1}{cot B + cot A}
cot(A − B) = \frac{cot A cot B + 1}{cot B - cot A}

Key Identities

sin(A+B)sin(A−B) = sin²A − sin²B = cos²B − cos²A
cos(A+B)cos(A−B) = cos²A − sin²B = cos²B − sin²A

Multiple & Sub-multiple Angles

Double Angle
sin 2A = 2 sin A cos A = \frac{2 \tan A}{1 + \tan^2 A}
cos 2A = cos²A − sin²A = 2cos²A − 1 = 1 − 2sin²A = \frac{1 − \tan^2 A}{1 + \tan^2 A}
tan 2A = \frac{2 \tan A}{1 − \tan^2 A}
Triple Angle
sin 3A = 3 sin A − 4 sin³ A
cos 3A = 4 cos³ A − 3 cos A
tan 3A = \frac{3 tan A - tan³ A}{1 - 3 tan² A}
Half Angle
sin \frac{A}{2} = \sqrt{\frac{1 - cos A}{2}}, \quad cos \frac{A}{2} = \sqrt{\frac{1 + cos A}{2}}

Sum ↔ Product Transformations

Product → Sum
2 sin A cos B = sin(A+B) + sin(A−B)
2 cos A sin B = sin(A+B) − sin(A−B)
2 cos A cos B = cos(A+B) + cos(A−B)
2 sin A sin B = cos(A−B) − cos(A+B)
Sum → Product
sin C + sin D = 2 sin\left(\frac{C+D}{2}\right) cos\left(\frac{C-D}{2}\right)
sin C − sin D = 2 cos\left(\frac{C+D}{2}\right) sin\left(\frac{C-D}{2}\right)
cos C + cos D = 2 cos\left(\frac{C+D}{2}\right) cos\left(\frac{C-D}{2}\right)
cos C − cos D = -2 sin\left(\frac{C+D}{2}\right) sin\left(\frac{C-D}{2}\right)

Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Principal Value Ranges

FunctionDomainRange
sin⁻¹ x[−1, 1][−π/2, π/2]
cos⁻¹ x[−1, 1][0, π]
tan⁻¹ x(−π/2, π/2)
Key Properties
sin⁻¹(−x) = −sin⁻¹ x
cos⁻¹(−x) = π − cos⁻¹ x
tan⁻¹(−x) = −tan⁻¹ x
Identities
sin⁻¹ x + cos⁻¹ x = π/2
tan⁻¹ x + cot⁻¹ x = π/2
sin⁻¹ x = tan⁻¹ \frac{x}{\sqrt{1-x^2}} = cos⁻¹ \sqrt{1-x^2}

General Solutions of Trigonometric Equations

EquationGeneral Solution
sin θ = sin αθ = nπ + (−1)ⁿ α
cos θ = cos αθ = 2nπ ± α
tan θ = tan αθ = nπ + α
sin θ = 1θ = π/2 + 2nπ
sin θ = −1θ = −π/2 + 2nπ = 3π/2 + 2nπ
cos θ = 1θ = 2nπ
cos θ = −1θ = (2n+1)π

Solution of Triangle

Sine Rule
\frac{a}{\sin A} = \frac{b}{\sin B} = \frac{c}{\sin C} = 2R
Cosine Rule
cos A = \frac{b^2 + c^2 - a^2}{2bc}
cos B = \frac{c^2 + a^2 - b^2}{2ca}
cos C = \frac{a^2 + b^2 - c^2}{2ab}
Projection Formula
a = b cos C + c cos B
b = c cos A + a cos C
Half-Angle Formulas
\sin \frac{A}{2} = \sqrt{\frac{(s-b)(s-c)}{bc}}, \quad \cos \frac{A}{2} = \sqrt{\frac{s(s-a)}{bc}}, \quad \tan \frac{A}{2} = \sqrt{\frac{(s-b)(s-c)}{s(s-a)}}

Height and Distance

Angle of Elevation

Angle between line of sight and horizontal when object is above observer.

Angle of Depression

Angle between line of sight and horizontal when object is below observer.