The difference of two angles identities are trigonometric identities that express the cosine and sine of the difference of two angles. The two identities are given in the equations below:
The identities can be visually proven using the right triangle definitions of the sine and cosine functions as shown below.
To derive the difference of two angles identities, two right triangles are placed next to each other so their angles sum together to be one angle and one triangle's angle is the difference of the sum and the other.
This example shows how to derive the difference of two angles identities as a proof without words shown below.
Derive the difference of two angle identities using the properties of complex numbers and Euler's formula in the complex plane.