Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Pre - Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

Unit III: Trigonometry

Lesson 7: Double-Angle and Half-Angle Identities

Introduction

Trigonometric identities simplify the computations of trigonometric expressions. In this lesson, we

continue establishing more trigonometric identities. We derive the formulas for f (2𝜃) and 𝑓(1/2𝜃), where
𝑓 is the sine, cosine, or tangent function.

Learning Objectives

After studying this completing this module with 80% to 100% accuracy, you are expected to:

a) derive double-angle and half-angle identities;

b) simplify trigonometric expressions using known identities;
c) rove other trigonometric identities known identities; and
d) solve situational problems involving trigonometric identities.

Double-Angle Identities

Recall the sum identities for sine and cosine:

sin( A + B) = sin A cos B + cos A sin B

cos( A + B) = cos A cos B − sin A sin B

When A=B, these identities becomes

sin(2 A) = sin A cos A + cos A sin A

= cos A(sin A + sin A)
= cos(2sin A)
= 2sin A cos A
cos(2 A) = cos A cos A − sin A sin A
= cos 2 A − sin 2 A

Double-Angle Identities for Sine and Cosine

sin(2 A) = 2sin A cos A

cos(2 A) = cos 2 A − sin 2 A

The double-angle identity for cosine has other forms. We use Pythagorean identity

sin 2  + cos 2  = 1

cos 2 A = cos 2 A − sin 2 A

= cos 2 A − (1 − cos 2 A)
= 2 cos 2 A − 1

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Pre - Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

cos 2 A = cos 2 A − sin 2 A

= (1 − sin 2 A) − sin 2 A
= 1 − 2sin 2 A

Other Double-Angle Identities for Cosine

cos(2 A) = 2cos2 A − 1
cos(2 A) = 1 − 2sin 2 A

Practice Problem #1

Verify (sin A + cos A)2 = 1 + sin 2 A .

Solution:

(sin A + cos A)(sin A + cos A) = 1 + sin 2 A

sin 2 A + sin A cos A + sin A cos A + cos 2 A = 1 + sin A
sin 2 A + 2sin A cos A + cos 2 A = 1 + sin A
1 + 2sin A cos A = 1 + sin A
1 + sin 2 A = 1 + sin 2 A

Practice Problem #2

12
Find the exact value of cos 2A if sin A = − in Quadrant III.
13

Solution:

Using the following form of the cosine of a double angle formula, cos 2 A = 1 − 2sin 2 A , we have:

cos 2 A = 1 − sin 2 A
 −12 
2

= 1− 2 
 13 
 144 
= 1− 2 
 169 
160 − 288
=
169
119
=−
169

Practice Problem #3

3 
Given sin t = and  t   , find sin 2t and cos 2t .
5 2

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Pre - Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

Solution:

We first find cos t using the Pythagorean identity. Since t line in QIII, we have.

cos 2 t + sin 2 t = 1
cos 2 t = 1 − sin 2 t
cos t = − 1 − sin 2 t
2
3
cos t = 1 −  
5
4
cos t = −
5

sin 2t = 2sin t cos t cos 2t = 1 − 2sin 2 t

2
 3  4  3
= 2   −  = 1− 2 
 5  5  5
−24 7
= =
25 25

In the last example, we, may compute cos 2t using one of the other double-angle identities for cosine. For
the sake of answering the curious minds, we include the computation here.

cos 2t = cos 2 t − sin 2 t cos 2t = 1 − 2sin 2 t

2 2 2
 4  3 3
= −  −  = 1− 2 
 5 5 5
7 7
= =
25 25

Tangent Double-Angle Identity

sin 2 A
tan 2 A =
cos 2 A
2sin A cos A
tan 2 A =
cos 2 A − sin 2 A
1
2sin A cos A cos 2 A
tan 2 A = 
cos 2 A − sin 2 A 1
cos 2 A
2sinAcosA
tan 2 A = cos 2 A
cos 2 A − sin 2 A
cos 2 A
2sin A
tan 2 A = cos A2
1 − tan A
2 tan A
tan 2 A =
1 − tan 2 A

2 tan A
tan 2 A =
1 − tan 2 A

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Pre - Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

Practice Problem #4

1
If tan  = − and sec  0 , find 2sin  , cos 2 and tan 2 .
3

Solution:

We can compute immediately tan 2 .

2 tan 
tan 2 =
1 − tan 2 
 1
2 − 
=  2
3
 1
1−  − 
 3
3
=−
4

From the given information, we deduce that  lies in QIV. Using Pythagorean identity, we compute
cos  through sec . We may also use the technique discussed in previous lesson by solving x, y and r.
then we proceed to find cos 2 .

sec 2  = 1 + tan 2 
1
cos  = cos 2 = 2 cos 2  − 1
sec  = 1 + tan  2
sec  2
2 1  3 10 
 1 = cos 2 = 2   − 1
= 1+  −  10
 3 10  
3 4
10 cos 2 =
= 3 10 5
3 =
10

4 3
Find sin 2 ; when cos 2 = and tan 2 = − ,
5 4

sin 2
tan 2 =
cos 2
sin 2 = tan 2 cos 2
 3  4 
sin 2 =  −  
 4  5 
3
sin 2 = −
5

Half-Angle Identities

Recall two of three double-angle identities for sine:

cos 2 A = 1 − sin 2 A and sin 2 A = 2 cos 2 A − 1

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Pre - Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021
2 2
From these identities, we obtain two useful identities expressing sin A and cos A in terms of cos 2A as
follows:

1 + cos 2 A 1 − cos 2 A
cos 2 A = and sin 2 A =
2 2

A
From these identities, replacing A with , we get
2

 A
1 + cos 2  
A
cos 2 =  2  = 1 + cos A
2 2 2

And

 A
1 − cos 2  
sin 2 A =  2  = 1 − cos A
2 2

These are the half-angle identities for sine and cosine.

 A  1 + cos A
cos 2   =
2 2
 A  1 − cos A
sin 2   =
2 2

Because of the “square” in the formulas, we get.

 A 1 + cos A
cos   =
2 2
 A 1 − cos A
sin   =
2 2

A A A
The appropriate signs of cos and sin depend on which quadrant lies.
2 2 2

A 1 − cos A A sin A
tan = and tan =
2 sin A 2 1 + cos A

Practice Problem #5


Find the exact value of tan
8

Solution:

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Pre - Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

 
Use the fact that is the half of , then
8 4

 1 
tan = tan  
8 2 4 

 2
1 − cos 1−
 4 = 2 = 2 − 2 = 2 −1
tan =
8  2 2
sin
4 2

Practice Problem #6

Find the exact value of cos105 .

Solution:

Use the fact that 105 is half of 210 and that cosine is negative in Quadrant III.

1
cos105 = cos (210)
2

 3
1+  − 
1 + cos 210  2  2− 3 2− 3
cos105 = − =− =− =−
2 2 4 2

Practice Problem #7

Find the exact values of sin 22.5 and cos 22.5

Solution:

Clearly, 22.5 lies in QI (and so sin 22.5 and cos 22.5 are both positive), and 22.5 is the half angle of
45 degrees.

2
1−
1 − cos 45 2 = 2− 2
sin 22.5 = =
2 2 2
2
1+
1 + cos 45 2 = 2+ 2
cos 22.5 = =
2 2 2

Tangent Half-Angle Identities

A 1 − cos A A sin A
tan = tan =
2 sin A 2 1 + cos A
A
sin
A 2  A  1 − cos A
tan = tan 2   =
2 cos A  2  1 + cos A
2
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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Pre - Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

Practice Problem #8


Find the exact value of tan
12

Solution:

 3
1 − cos 1−
 6 = 2 = 2− 3
tan =
12  1
sin
6 2

Key Concepts

✓ Double-Angle Identities

sin 2 = 2sin  cos 

cos 2 = cos 2  − sin 2 
= 2 cos 2  − 1
= 1 − 2sin 2 
2 tan 
tan 2 =
1 − tan 2 

✓ Half-Angle Identities

   1 − cos 2   1 − cos 
sin 2   = sin   = 
2 2 2 2
   1 + cos 2   1 + cos 
cos 2   = cos   = 
2 2 2 2
   1 − cos    sin A
tan   = tan   =
2 sin   2  1 + cos A

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Pre - Calculus
SY 2020 – 2021

Learning Activity

1. Express tan 3 in terms of tan  .

3 3
2. Given cos u = − with   u  , find sin 2u .
5 2
3 3 u
3. Given cos u = − with   u  , find sin .
5 2 2
cos 2
4. Simplify
sin  + cos 
5. Prove sin 3x = 3sin x − 4sin 3 x
 A  2 − 2cos A
6. sec2   = if
2 sin 2 A

Tutorial Videos

You may access the pre-recorded on your module 3.4 in Canvas.

Got some questions and

clarifications? You may message
your subject teachers in Canvass
inbox or MS Teams. Or you can
post it on our discussion board.

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