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Complementary angles

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⏱ 3 min read🧩 5 question types🎯 14 practice Q
The idea in one minute

Angles adding to 90 degrees swap each ratio with its co-partner: sine becomes cosine, tangent becomes cotangent, secant becomes cosecant. This single swap collapses long sums, product chains and paired differences, and it solves for unknown angles by matching partners.

01

The swap rules

For complementary angles, θ\theta and 90∘−θ90^\circ-\theta:

sin⁡(90∘−θ)=cos⁡θ,tan⁡(90∘−θ)=cot⁡θ,sec⁡(90∘−θ)=cosec⁡θ\sin(90^\circ-\theta)=\cos\theta,\quad \tan(90^\circ-\theta)=\cot\theta,\quad \sec(90^\circ-\theta)=\cosec\theta

The 'co-' in cosine literally means 'complement's sine'. Any ratio of one angle equals the co-ratio of its partner.

Check at θ=35∘\theta=35^\circ: sin⁡35∘=cos⁡55∘\sin35^\circ=\cos55^\circ, and tan⁡35∘tan⁡55∘=1\tan35^\circ\tan55^\circ=1 because the tangents are reciprocal partners. One complement, three identities confirmed on the spot.

Rule: In a right triangle the two acute angles are complementary, so each angle's sine is the other's cosine.

02

Collapsing sums

sin⁡35∘sec⁡55∘+cos⁡35∘cosec⁡55∘\sin35^\circ\sec55^\circ+\cos35^\circ\cosec55^\circ

sec⁡55∘=1cos⁡55∘=1sin⁡35∘\sec55^\circ=\dfrac{1}{\cos55^\circ}=\dfrac{1}{\sin35^\circ}, so the first term is 11. The second term is 11 the same way. Total: 22.

Convert everything to one angle, then watch the expression fold.

Another shape: cos⁡25∘sec⁡65∘+sin⁡25∘cosec⁡65∘\dfrac{\cos25^\circ}{\sec65^\circ}+\dfrac{\sin25^\circ}{\cosec65^\circ}. Since cos⁡65∘=sin⁡25∘\cos65^\circ=\sin25^\circ, the first fraction is cos⁡25∘sin⁡25∘\cos25^\circ\sin25^\circ; the second equals the same product. The sum is 2sin⁡25∘cos⁡25∘=sin⁡50∘2\sin25^\circ\cos25^\circ=\sin50^\circ.

Tip: Choose one target angle (say 35∘35^\circ) and rewrite every piece in it before simplifying.

03

Product chains

tan⁡5∘tan⁡85∘=1\tan5^\circ\tan85^\circ=1 because the angles are complementary. So:

tan⁡5∘tan⁡25∘tan⁡45∘tan⁡65∘tan⁡85∘=1×1×1=1\tan5^\circ\tan25^\circ\tan45^\circ\tan65^\circ\tan85^\circ=1\times1\times1=1

Chains pair off from the ends; the middle 45∘45^\circ term is 11 on its own. Four-factor chains work identically: tan⁡10∘tan⁡20∘tan⁡70∘tan⁡80∘=1\tan10^\circ\tan20^\circ\tan70^\circ\tan80^\circ=1, since 10+80=9010+80=90 and 20+70=9020+70=90.

04

Twin differences die

cosec⁡68∘−sec⁡22∘\cosec68^\circ-\sec22^\circ: since 68∘+22∘=90∘68^\circ+22^\circ=90^\circ, cosec⁡68∘=sec⁡22∘\cosec68^\circ=\sec22^\circ. The difference is exactly 00.

Sums of twins double instead of vanishing: sec⁡72∘+cosec⁡18∘=2cosec⁡18∘\sec72^\circ+\cosec18^\circ=2\cosec18^\circ. And a long chain like tan⁡1∘tan⁡2∘⋯tan⁡89∘\tan1^\circ\tan2^\circ\cdots\tan89^\circ pairs into 4444 ones around the middle tan⁡45∘=1\tan45^\circ=1, so the whole product is 11.

Watch: Check the angle sum first. If it is 90∘90^\circ, the answer may need no computation at all.

05

Solving for the angle

sin⁡3A=cos⁡(A−10∘)\sin3A=\cos(A-10^\circ): the partners rule needs 3A=90∘−(A−10∘)3A=90^\circ-(A-10^\circ), so 4A=100∘4A=100^\circ and A=25∘A=25^\circ. Check: sin⁡75∘=cos⁡15∘\sin75^\circ=\cos15^\circ.

Same layout with tangents: tan⁡2A=cot⁡(3A−10∘)\tan2A=\cot(3A-10^\circ) gives 2A+3A−10∘=90∘2A+3A-10^\circ=90^\circ, so A=20∘A=20^\circ. A negative argument also resolves: sin⁡(2A−10∘)=cos⁡(3A+20∘)\sin(2A-10^\circ)=\cos(3A+20^\circ) gives 5A+10∘=90∘5A+10^\circ=90^\circ, so A=16∘A=16^\circ.

Remember: Convert the cosine or cotangent to its partner first, then solve the plain linear equation in the angle.

06

Question types you will see

Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.

Type 1very common3 practice Q

Pair conversion to collapse a sum

How to spot it:

A sum of products mixing two complementary angles.

Method
  1. Convert every piece to one target angle.

  2. Simplify each product to 11 or a square.

  3. Add what is left.

Why it works:

After conversion the products collapse to constants, so the sum is usually small.

Try this

The value of sin⁡35∘sec⁡55∘+cos⁡35∘cosec⁡55∘\sin 35^\circ \sec 55^\circ + \cos 35^\circ \cosec 55^\circ is:

Show solution
  1. sec⁡55∘=1sin⁡35∘\sec55^\circ=\dfrac{1}{\sin35^\circ}, so term one =1=1.

  2. cosec⁡55∘=1cos⁡35∘\cosec55^\circ=\dfrac{1}{\cos35^\circ}, so term two =1=1.

  3. Total =2=2.

Answer

2

Type 2common4 practice Q

Product chains pairing to one

How to spot it:

A long product of tangents of several angles.

Method
  1. Add pairs of angles from the ends.

  2. Each 90^\\circ pair multiplies to 11.

  3. Evaluate any lone 45^\\circ factor as 11.

Why it works:

Chains are built to pair off; recognising the pairing avoids every computation.

Try this

The value of tan⁡5∘tan⁡25∘tan⁡45∘tan⁡65∘tan⁡85∘\tan 5^\circ \tan 25^\circ \tan 45^\circ \tan 65^\circ \tan 85^\circ is:

Show solution
  1. 5+85=905+85=90 and 25+65=9025+65=90: both pairs give 11.

  2. tan⁡45∘=1\tan45^\circ=1.

  3. Product =1=1.

Answer

1

Type 3very common3 practice Q

Finding the angle from complementary equality

How to spot it:

An equation linking a ratio of one angle to a co-ratio of another.

Method
  1. Convert one side to the other's partner type.

  2. Set the angle expressions to sum to 90^\\circ.

  3. Solve the linear equation.

Why it works:

Partner equality forces the angle arguments to be complementary, which is a linear equation.

Try this

If sin⁡3A=cos⁡(A−10∘)\sin 3A = \cos(A - 10^\circ), the value of AA is:

Show solution
  1. 3A+(A−10∘)=90∘3A+(A-10^\circ)=90^\circ.

  2. 4A=100∘4A=100^\circ.

  3. A=25∘A=25^\circ.

Answer

25 degrees

Type 4common2 practice Q

Difference of complementary twins

How to spot it:

A difference of two co-functions of two angles.

Method
  1. Add the two angles.

  2. If they sum to 90^\\circ, the functions are equal.

  3. The difference is 00.

Why it works:

Twins subtract to zero without arithmetic, which makes these the fastest marks on the paper.

Try this

The value of cosec⁡68∘−sec⁡22∘\cosec 68^\circ - \sec 22^\circ is:

Show solution
  1. 68∘+22∘=90∘68^\circ+22^\circ=90^\circ.

  2. cosec⁡68∘=sec⁡22∘\cosec68^\circ=\sec22^\circ.

  3. Difference =0=0.

Answer

0

Type 5common

Angles of one right triangle as partners

How to spot it:

A triangle question linking the two acute angles' ratios.

Method
  1. Mark the right angle and name the acute angles.

  2. Write the partner relation sinA=cosC\\sin A=\\cos C.

  3. Substitute the given angle or solve.

Why it works:

The complement rule is just the right triangle's own structure, so geometry questions fall out directly.

Try this

In △ABC\triangle ABC right-angled at BB, tan⁡2A=cot⁡(3A−10∘)\tan2A=\cot(3A-10^\circ) holds. The value of AA is:

Show solution
  1. 2A+(3A−10∘)=90∘2A+(3A-10^\circ)=90^\circ.

  2. 5A=100∘5A=100^\circ.

  3. A=20∘A=20^\circ.

Answer

20 degrees

07

Formula sheet

Complementary swaps
sin⁡(90∘−θ)=cos⁡θ, tan⁡(90∘−θ)=cot⁡θ, sec⁡(90∘−θ)=cosec⁡θ\sin(90^\circ-\theta)=\cos\theta,\ \tan(90^\circ-\theta)=\cot\theta,\ \sec(90^\circ-\theta)=\cosec\theta

Drop the co- or add it.

Right triangle angles
A+B=90∘⇒sin⁡A=cos⁡BA+B=90^\circ\Rightarrow\sin A=\cos B

The two acute angles are partners.

Pairing to one
tan⁡θ⋅tan⁡(90∘−θ)=1\tan\theta\cdot\tan(90^\circ-\theta)=1

Complementary tangents multiply to 1.

08

Shortcuts that save time

⚡ Sum the angles first

Before computing anything, add the two angles. Ninety degrees means the terms are twins.

Example

The value of cosec⁡68∘−sec⁡22∘\cosec 68^\circ - \sec 22^\circ is:

Show solution
  1. 68∘+22∘=90∘68^\circ+22^\circ=90^\circ.

  2. cosec⁡68∘=sec⁡22∘\cosec68^\circ=\sec22^\circ.

  3. Difference =0=0.

Answer

0

⚡ Chains pair from the ends

tan 5 with tan 85, tan 25 with tan 65: each pair multiplies to 1, and the lone tan 45 is 1.

Example

The value of tan⁡5∘tan⁡25∘tan⁡45∘tan⁡65∘tan⁡85∘\tan 5^\circ \tan 25^\circ \tan 45^\circ \tan 65^\circ \tan 85^\circ is:

Show solution
  1. tan⁡5∘tan⁡85∘=1\tan5^\circ\tan85^\circ=1; tan⁡25∘tan⁡65∘=1\tan25^\circ\tan65^\circ=1.

  2. tan⁡45∘=1\tan45^\circ=1.

  3. Product =1=1.

Answer

1

⚡ Match partners to find the angle

sin of something = cos of something: the two somethings must add to 90. That gives a linear equation.

Example

If sin⁡3A=cos⁡(A−10∘)\sin 3A = \cos(A - 10^\circ), the value of AA is:

Show solution
  1. 3A=90∘−(A−10∘)3A=90^\circ-(A-10^\circ).

  2. 4A=100∘4A=100^\circ.

  3. A=25∘A=25^\circ.

Answer

25 degrees

09

Mistakes to avoid

Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.

Mistake 01

Writing sin⁡(90∘−θ)=sin⁡θ\sin(90^\circ-\theta)=\sin\theta.

The complement swaps to cosine: cos⁡θ\cos\theta. No swap, no collapse.

Mistake 02

Pairing sec⁡\sec with tan⁡\tan as complements.

Partners are sin⁡↔cos⁡\sin\leftrightarrow\cos, tan⁡↔cot⁡\tan\leftrightarrow\cot, sec⁡↔cosec⁡\sec\leftrightarrow\cosec.

Mistake 03

Solving sin⁡3A=cos⁡(A−10∘)\sin3A=\cos(A-10^\circ) by eye.

Convert first: 3A+(A−10∘)=90∘3A+(A-10^\circ)=90^\circ, then A=25∘A=25^\circ.

Mistake 04

Missing the tan⁡45∘=1\tan45^\circ=1 middle term in chains.

Unpaired middle terms still contribute their value; 45∘45^\circ contributes 11.

Mistake 05

Leaving answers in degrees and radians mixed.

Exam angles are degrees; keep the symbol consistent throughout.

10

Quick revision

Read this the night before the exam.

  • Complement rule: sin⁡(90∘−θ)=cos⁡θ\sin(90^\circ-\theta)=\cos\theta; same shape for tan⁡\tan/cot⁡\cot and sec⁡\sec/cosec⁡\cosec.

  • Two acute angles of a right triangle are complementary.

  • Convert a mixed expression to one angle before simplifying.

  • Product chains pair from the ends to 11; tan⁡45∘=1\tan45^\circ=1 stands alone.

  • Twin sums to 90∘90^\circ mean differences of 00.

  • Angle equations: partners first, then a linear solve.

11

Practice: 14 questions

Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.

Topic test · 10 questions

Suggested time 6 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.