Trivia ForgePlay free →

What is the expansion of the trigonometric expression cos(A-B)?

Show answer

cos A cos B + sin A sin B

This formula is a fundamental angle difference identity used to calculate the cosine of the distance between two angles. A helpful mnemonic is that cosine is 'contrary,' meaning the minus sign in the original expression (A-B) always flips to a plus sign in the final expansion.

Also asked as:
  • According to the angle difference identity, what does cos(A-B) expand to?

Would you remember this in 6 months?

Trivia Forge uses spaced repetition so facts stick. Free, no signup needed.

Turn on Trigonometry practice →

More Trigonometry trivia

See all 147 →