When two angles A and B are combined by addition or subtraction, the trigonometric ratio of the combined (compound) angle can be written in terms of the separate sine, cosine and tangent of A and B. The four building-block identities are cos(A−B)=cosAcosB+sinAsinB, cos(A+B)=cosAcosB−sinAsinB, sin(A+B)=sinAcosB+cosAsinB and sin(A−B)=sinAcosB−cosAsinB, proved geometrically using the distance between two points on a unit circle. Dividing the sine formulas by the cosine formulas gives the tangent versions tan(A±B)=1∓tanAtanBtanA±tanB, and taking reciprocals gives the cotangent versions. A very common use is to write an 'unfriendly' angle like 15°, 75° or 105° as a sum or difference of the standard angles 30°,45°,60°,90° so its exact value can be found. The same identities let us prove identities that mix several angles, and, with B=2π, they generate the allied-angle results.
"Compound angle formulas sin(A+B) cos(A-B) derivation" and "trigonometric functions class 11 important questions" are frequently searched around the Trigonometric Functions chapter of the NCERT/CBSE Class 11 Mathematics curriculum, since these four building-block identities are tested every year in board exams and JEE Main. Using them to evaluate "unfriendly" angles like 15° and 75°, as shown here, is one of the most commonly repeated question types in this chapter.