Comparing Trig and Hyperbolic Trig Functions

By the Maths Learning Centre, University of Adelaide

Trigonometric Functions Hyperbolic Trigonometric Functions

Definition using unit circle:
If a point is an arc length of t anticlockwise around
the unit circle from (1,0), then that point is
(cos 𝑡 , sin 𝑡).
(Note the line segment from the origin to the unit
1
circle sweeps out an area of 2 𝑡.)
Definition using unit hyperbola:
If a line segment from the origin to the unit
1
hyperbola sweeps out an area of 2 𝑡 between (1,0)
and a particular point as it moves upwards, then
that point is (cosh 𝑡 , sinh 𝑡).

Parameterising a curve: Parameterising a curve:

If we use all values of 𝑡, the points (cos 𝑡 , sin 𝑡) If we use all values of 𝑡, the points (cosh 𝑡 , sinh 𝑡)
form the circle with equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1. form the right-hand branch of the hyperbola with
equation 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 = 1.

Defining other functions: Defining other functions:

sin 𝑥 1 sinh 𝑥 1
tan 𝑥 = cosec 𝑥 = tanh 𝑥 = cosech 𝑥 =
cos 𝑥 sin 𝑥 cosh 𝑥 sinh 𝑥
1 1 1 1
sec 𝑥 = cot 𝑥 = sech 𝑥 = coth 𝑥 =
cos 𝑥 tan 𝑥 cosh 𝑥 tanh 𝑥

Basic identities Basic identities

(cos 𝑥)2 + (sin 𝑥)2 = 1 (cosh 𝑥)2 − (sinh 𝑥)2 = 1
1 + (tan 𝑥)2 = (sec 𝑥)2 1 − (tanh 𝑥)2 = (sech 𝑥)2
(cot 𝑥)2 + 1 = (cosec 𝑥)2 (coth 𝑥)2 − 1 = (cosech 𝑥)2

Double angle identities Double area identities

sin(2𝑥) = 2 sin 𝑥 cos 𝑥 sinh(2𝑥) = 2 sinh 𝑥 cosh 𝑥
cos(2𝑥) = (cos 𝑥)2 − (sin 𝑥)2 cosh(2𝑥) = (cosh 𝑥)2 + (sinh 𝑥)2
= 2(cos 𝑥)2 − 1 = 2(cosh 𝑥)2 − 1
= 1 − 2(sin 𝑥)2 = 1 + 2(sinh 𝑥)2

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 Comparing Trig and Hyperbolic Trig Functions
By the Maths Learning Centre, University of Adelaide

Trigonometric Functions Hyperbolic Trigonometric Functions

Odd and even properties Odd and even properties
cos 𝑥 is an even function cosh 𝑥 is an even function
sin 𝑥 is an odd function sinh 𝑥 is an odd function
tan 𝑥 is an odd function tanh 𝑥 is an odd function

Values at zero Values at zero

cos(0) = 1 sin(0) = 0 tan(0) = 0 cosh(0) = 1 sinh(0) = 0 tanh(0) = 0

Derivatives Derivatives
𝑑 𝑑
cos 𝑥 = − sin 𝑥 cosh 𝑥 = sinh 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑
sin 𝑥 = cos 𝑥 sinh 𝑥 = cosh 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑
tan 𝑥 = (sec 𝑥)2 tanh 𝑥 = (sech 𝑥)2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Derivatives of inverse functions Derivatives of inverse functions

𝑑 −1 𝑑 1
arccos 𝑥 = acosh 𝑥 =
𝑑𝑥 √1 − 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 √𝑥 2 − 1
𝑑 1 𝑑 1
arcsin 𝑥 = asinh 𝑥 =
𝑑𝑥 √1 − 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 √1 + 𝑥 2
𝑑 1 𝑑 1
arctan 𝑥 = atanh 𝑥 =
𝑑𝑥 1 + 𝑥2 𝑑𝑥 1 − 𝑥2

Maclaurin Series Maclaurin Series

𝑥3 𝑥5 𝑥7 𝑥3 𝑥5 𝑥7
sin 𝑥 = 𝑥 − + − +⋯ sinh 𝑥 = 𝑥 + + + +⋯
3! 5! 7! 3! 5! 7!
𝑥2 𝑥4 𝑥6 𝑥2 𝑥4 𝑥6
cos 𝑥 = 1 − + − +⋯ cosh 𝑥 = 1 + + + +⋯
2! 4! 6! 2! 4! 6!

Relationship to 𝒆𝒙 Relationship to 𝒆𝒙
𝑒 𝑖𝑥 = cos 𝑥 + 𝑖 sin 𝑥 𝑒 𝑥 = cosh 𝑥 + sinh 𝑥
𝑒 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑒 −𝑖𝑥 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 −𝑥
cos 𝑥 = cosh 𝑥 =
2 2
𝑒 𝑖𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑖𝑥 𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥
sin 𝑥 = sinh 𝑥 =
2𝑖 2