Finding exact values for the tangent of the sum or difference of two angles is a little more complicated, but again, it is a matter of recognizing the pattern.
Finding the sum of two angles formula for tangent involves taking the quotient of the sum formulas for sine and cosine and simplifying. Recall, [latex]\tan x=\frac{\sin x}{\cos x},\cos x\ne 0[/latex].
We can use the sum and difference formulas to identify the sum or difference of angles when the ratio of sine, cosine, or tangent is provided for each of the individual angles. To do so, we construct what is called a reference triangle to help find each component of the sum and difference formulas.
To find [latex]\sin \left(\alpha +\beta \right)[/latex], we begin with [latex]\sin \alpha =\frac{3}{5}[/latex] and [latex]0<\alpha <\frac{\pi }{2}[/latex]. The side opposite [latex]\alpha[/latex] has length 3, the hypotenuse has length 5, and [latex]\alpha[/latex] is in the first quadrant. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, we can find the length of side [latex]a:[/latex]
Since [latex]\cos \beta =-\frac{5}{13}[/latex] and [latex]\pi <\beta <\frac{3\pi }{2}[/latex], the side adjacent to [latex]\beta[/latex] is [latex]-5[/latex], the hypotenuse is 13, and [latex]\beta[/latex] is in the third quadrant. Again, using the Pythagorean Theorem, we have
Since [latex]\beta[/latex] is in the third quadrant, [latex]a=-12[/latex].
The next step is finding the cosine of [latex]\alpha[/latex] and the sine of [latex]\beta[/latex]. The cosine of [latex]\alpha[/latex] is the adjacent side over the hypotenuse. We can find it from the triangle: [latex]\cos \alpha =\frac{4}{5}[/latex]. We can also find the sine of [latex]\beta[/latex] from the triangle, as opposite side over the hypotenuse: [latex]\sin \beta =-\frac{12}{13}[/latex]. Now we are ready to evaluate [latex]\sin \left(\alpha +\beta \right)[/latex].
A common mistake when addressing problems such as this one is that we may be tempted to think that [latex]\alpha[/latex] and [latex]\beta[/latex] are angles in the same triangle, which of course, they are not. Also note that