The half-angle identities

for sine and cosine can

be derived by setting θ
α
equal to in the double-
2
angle identities for
cosine.
α
Since sin does not
2
have two values, the
sign is either positive or
negative, depending
upon the quadrant in
α
which lies.
2
 α
For cos the sign
2
is by the
quadrant

α
which lies
2
There are 2 alternate forms
α
of tan
2
α
α =±
tan =
1 −cos α
, sin α ≠ 0 2
2 sin α
α
=±
2
α sin α
tan = , cos α ≠ 1
2 1+cos α ±

These forms are often

preferred because the
expressions on the right are
not preceded by ± symbols;
that is, each identity gives
the correct sign directly.
Example 1. Find the exact value of each trigonometric
function:
7𝜋
A. sin
12
𝛼 7𝜋 𝛼
a. Let = .
Then angle ties in quadrant II,
2 12 2
where the sine is positive.
7𝜋 7𝜋
Also, α = 2( ) =
12 6
7𝜋
7𝜋 1−cos 𝛼 1−𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
6
sin = sin =
12 2 2 2

3
1−(− 2 ) 2+ 3 2+ 3
= = =
2 4 2
 B. cos 165°
𝛼 𝛼
b. Let = 165. Then angle lies in quadrant II, where the
2 2
cosine is negative.
Also, α = 2(165°) =330°
1+cos 330 𝛼 1=cos 𝛼
cos 165° = - cos =-
2 2 2

3
1+ 2+ 3 2+ 3
2
= - =- =-
2 4 2

You can use the half-angle identities to find the value of

a trigonometric function of a half-angle if you are given the
value of one trigonometric function of the angle and the
quadrant in which the terminal side lies.
 𝛼 4
Example 2. Fid the exact value of tan If tan = - and α is in
2 3
quadrant 4
4
Tan α = - and α is in quadrant IV. Use y = - 4 and x =
3
3, and find r
r = 32 + (−4)2 = 25 = 5
4 3
Thus sinα = - and cosα = .
5 5
4 4
𝛼 −5 −5 4 1 𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
tan = 3 = 8 = - 𝑜𝑟 - tan =
2 1+ 8 2 2 1=𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
5 5
𝛼
Show that the other forms for tan yield the same
2
result
Care must be taken to determine the correct quadrant
for a half-angle
 𝛼 3
Example 3. Find the exact value of sin if cos α = - , α
2 5
lies in quadrant III,
and 0° < α < 360°
Since α lies in quadrant III and 0° < α < 360°, it
must be true that 180° < α < 270°
𝛼 𝛼
Thus, 90° < <135° and lies in quadrant II,
2 2
where the sine is positive.
3
𝛼 1−(−5) 8 4 2 5 𝛼
sin = = = = sin =
2 2 10 5 5 2
1−𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
2
Half-angle identities can be used to prove other
identities.
 𝛼
Example 4. Prove: -cosα = 2sin ( )
2 -1
2
-cos α 2sin2 (𝛼) -1
2
1−𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 2
2(± ) –1
2
1−𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
2( )–1
2
1 – cos𝛼 – 1
= -cos α

𝛼
Thus, -cosα = 2 sin ( )
2 – 1.
2
CLASS EXERCISES
1+sin 5° 1 −cos 40°
1. cos 10° = 5. sin 20° =
2 2

sin 100° 1 −cos 20°

2. tan 200° = 6. tan 10° =
1+cos 100° sin 20°

1 −cos 30° sin 50°

3. tan 15° = 7. tan 100° = -
1+cos 30° 1+cos 50°

1+cos 120° 1+cos 40°

4. sin 60° = 8. cos 40° = -
2 2
PRACTICE EXERCISES
Use half-angle identities to find 8. Cos 5𝜋
8
the exact value of each function.
1. tan 105ׄ°

2. cos 105°
7𝜋
3. sin 22.5° 9. Cos
8

7𝜋
4. tan 22.5° 10.Tan
8

5. cos 67.5° 𝜋
11.Tan
12
6. Sin 67.5° 𝜋
12.Sin
12
5𝜋
7. Sin
8
PRACTICE EXERCISES

𝛼 4
13. Cos is cos α = and α lies in quadrant I
2 5

𝛼 3
14. Sin if cos α = and α lies in quadrant I
2 5

𝛼 1
15. cos if cos α = and α lies in quadrant I
2 2

𝛼 2
16. Sin if cos α = and α lies in quadrant I
2 2

𝛼
17. Tan if tan α = 2 and α lies in quadrant III
2
 𝛼
18. Tan if tan α = -2 and α lies in quadrant II
2

𝛼 24
19. Tan if tan α = - and α lies in quadrant IV
2 25

𝛼 8
20. Tan if tan α = - and α lies in quadrant IV
2 17

5
21. Sin α if cos 2α = and α lies in quadrant I
13

12
22. Cos α if cos 2α = - and α lies in quadrant
13
III
 𝛼 sin 𝛼
23. Tan =
2 1=cos 𝛼

𝛼 1 −cos 𝛼
24. Tan =
2 sin 𝛼

𝛼
25. Cos α = 2cos ( )
2 -1
2

𝛼 𝛼
26. Sin α = 2sin cos
2 2

1+tan2 (𝛼2)
27. Csc α =
2tan(𝛼2 )
 2
2 𝛼 1+𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
28. Tan ( ) =
2 sin2α
𝛼 𝛼
𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 −𝑡𝑎𝑛 2
29. Cos α = 𝛼 𝛼
𝑡𝑎𝑛 2 +𝑐𝑜𝑠 2

1+tan2(𝛼2)
30. Sec α =
1−tan2(𝛼2)
𝛼
31. Cos 2α = 1 – 8sin ( )
2
2
2 𝛼
cos ( )
2

𝛼 2 cos 𝛼
32. tan ( )
2 =1-
2 1+cos 𝛼