The compound angle formula
can be proved using simple trigonometry. Consider the right angled triangle below with internal right angled triangles constructed with internal angles
and![]()
With sides labelled
and
as shown below,
we can find sides in terms of x and h.
Then
and![]()
By labelling extra angles as below,
we deduce that![]()
Equating these expressions for x gives![]()
Substitute
to give![]()
h now cancels from both sides to give![]()