IB skill practice

Prove and use trigonometric identities

Use core trigonometric identities to connect exact ratios and justify each algebraic step.

Paper 1 5 marks Difficulty 3

Use the Pythagorean identity from cosine

Given \(\cos\theta=3/5\) and \(0^\circ<\theta<90^\circ\), find \(\sin^2\theta\), \(\cos^2\theta\), and \(\cos\theta\).

Worked practice: trigonometric identity

Square the sine value, subtract from one, then take the positive cosine value.