Double-angle and half-angle identities are used in trigonometry to rewrite expressions involving twice an angle or half an angle. These formulas are helpful for finding exact trig values, simplifying expressions, solving equations, and verifying identities. This page includes examples with sine, cosine, tangent, quadrant information, and identity proofs.
Notes


Practice Problems
\(\textbf{1)}\) \(\text{Find exact value of }\sin{165^{\circ}}\)
The answer is \(\displaystyle\frac{\sqrt{6}-\sqrt{2}}{4}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,165^\circ=\frac{330^\circ}{2}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\pm\sqrt{\frac{1-\cos\theta}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin(165^\circ)=\sqrt{\frac{1-\cos(330^\circ)}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin(165^\circ)=\sqrt{\frac{1-\frac{\sqrt3}{2}}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin(165^\circ)=\sqrt{\frac{2-\sqrt3}{4}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin(165^\circ)=\frac{\sqrt{2-\sqrt3}}{2}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin(165^\circ)=\frac{\sqrt6-\sqrt2}{4}\)
\(\textbf{2)}\) \(\text{Find exact value of }\cos{75^{\circ}}\)
The answer is \(\displaystyle\frac{\sqrt{2-\sqrt{3}}}{2}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,75^\circ=\frac{150^\circ}{2}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\pm\sqrt{\frac{1+\cos\theta}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(75^\circ)=\sqrt{\frac{1+\cos(150^\circ)}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(75^\circ)=\sqrt{\frac{1-\frac{\sqrt3}{2}}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(75^\circ)=\sqrt{\frac{2-\sqrt3}{4}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(75^\circ)=\frac{\sqrt{2-\sqrt3}}{2}\)
\(\textbf{3)}\) \(\text{Find exact value of }\tan{67.5^{\circ}}\)
The answer is \(\sqrt{2}+1\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,67.5^\circ=\frac{135^\circ}{2}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\frac{\sin\theta}{1+\cos\theta}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(67.5^\circ)=\frac{\sin(135^\circ)}{1+\cos(135^\circ)}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(67.5^\circ)=\frac{\frac{\sqrt2}{2}}{1-\frac{\sqrt2}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(67.5^\circ)=\frac{\sqrt2}{2-\sqrt2}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(67.5^\circ)=\frac{\sqrt2(2+\sqrt2)}{(2-\sqrt2)(2+\sqrt2)}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(67.5^\circ)=\sqrt2+1\)
\(\textbf{4)}\) \(\text{Find exact value of }\cos{15^{\circ}}\)
The answer is \(\displaystyle\frac{\sqrt{2+\sqrt{3}}}{2}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,15^\circ=\frac{30^\circ}{2}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\pm\sqrt{\frac{1+\cos\theta}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(15^\circ)=\sqrt{\frac{1+\cos(30^\circ)}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(15^\circ)=\sqrt{\frac{1+\frac{\sqrt3}{2}}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(15^\circ)=\sqrt{\frac{2+\sqrt3}{4}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(15^\circ)=\frac{\sqrt{2+\sqrt3}}{2}\)
\(\textbf{5)}\) \(\sin\theta=\frac{3}{5},\) and \(90^{\circ}\lt\theta\lt180^{\circ},\) find \(\sin 2\theta\)
The answer is \(\frac{-24}{25}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin\theta=\frac{3}{5}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,90^\circ\lt\theta\lt180^\circ,\text{ so }\theta\text{ is in Quadrant II}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos\theta=-\frac{4}{5}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin(2\theta)=2\sin\theta\cos\theta\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin(2\theta)=2\left(\frac{3}{5}\right)\left(-\frac{4}{5}\right)\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin(2\theta)=-\frac{24}{25}\)
\(\textbf{6)}\) \(\sin\theta=\frac{3}{5},\) and \(90^{\circ}\lt\theta\lt180^{\circ},\) find \(\cos 2\theta\)
The answer is \(\frac{7}{25}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin\theta=\frac{3}{5}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,90^\circ\lt\theta\lt180^\circ,\text{ so }\theta\text{ is in Quadrant II}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos\theta=-\frac{4}{5}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(2\theta)=\cos^2\theta-\sin^2\theta\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(2\theta)=\left(-\frac{4}{5}\right)^2-\left(\frac{3}{5}\right)^2\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(2\theta)=\frac{16}{25}-\frac{9}{25}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(2\theta)=\frac{7}{25}\)
\(\textbf{7)}\) \(\sin\theta=\frac{3}{5},\) and \(90^{\circ}\lt\theta\lt180^{\circ},\) find \(\tan 2\theta\)
The answer is \(\frac{-24}{7}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin(2\theta)=-\frac{24}{25}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(2\theta)=\frac{7}{25}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(2\theta)=\frac{\sin(2\theta)}{\cos(2\theta)}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(2\theta)=\frac{-\frac{24}{25}}{\frac{7}{25}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(2\theta)=-\frac{24}{7}\)
\(\textbf{8)}\) \(\sin\theta=\frac{3}{5},\) and \(90^{\circ}\lt\theta\lt180^{\circ},\) find \(\sin \frac{\theta}{2}\)
The answer is \(\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{10}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,90^\circ\lt\theta\lt180^\circ,\text{ so }45^\circ\lt\frac{\theta}{2}\lt90^\circ\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\frac{\theta}{2}\text{ is in Quadrant I, so sine is positive.}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos\theta=-\frac{4}{5}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\frac{1-\cos\theta}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\frac{1-\left(-\frac{4}{5}\right)}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\frac{\frac{9}{5}}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\frac{9}{10}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{10}\)
\(\textbf{9)}\) \(\sin\theta=\frac{3}{5},\) and \(90^{\circ}\lt\theta\lt180^{\circ},\) find \(\cos \frac{\theta}{2}\)
The answer is \(\frac{\sqrt{10}}{10}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,90^\circ\lt\theta\lt180^\circ,\text{ so }45^\circ\lt\frac{\theta}{2}\lt90^\circ\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\frac{\theta}{2}\text{ is in Quadrant I, so cosine is positive.}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos\theta=-\frac{4}{5}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\frac{1+\cos\theta}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\frac{1+\left(-\frac{4}{5}\right)}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\frac{\frac{1}{5}}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\frac{1}{10}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\frac{\sqrt{10}}{10}\)
\(\textbf{10)}\) \(\sin\theta=\frac{3}{5},\) and \(90^{\circ}\lt\theta\lt180^{\circ},\) find \(\tan \frac{\theta}{2}\)
The answer is \(3\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\frac{\sin\theta}{1+\cos\theta}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\frac{\frac{3}{5}}{1+\left(-\frac{4}{5}\right)}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\frac{\frac{3}{5}}{\frac{1}{5}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=3\)
\(\textbf{11)}\) \(\sin{A}=\frac{4}{5},\) and \(0^{\circ}\lt A \lt90^{\circ},\) find \(\tan{2A}\)
The answer is \(-\frac{24}{7}\)

\(\,\,\,\,\, \sin{A}=\frac{4}{5}=\frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \text{opposite}=4, \text{hypotenuse}=5\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \text{(adjacent)}^2+4^2=5^2\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \text{adjacent}=3\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{A}=\frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}=\frac{4}{3}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=\frac{2\tan{A}}{1-\tan^2{A}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=\frac{2(4/3)}{1-(4/3)^2}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=\frac{8/3}{1-16/9}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=\frac{8/3}{9/9-16/9}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=\frac{8/3}{-7/9}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=\frac{8}{3}*\left(-\frac{9}{7}\right)\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=-\frac{24}{7}\)
\(\textbf{12)}\) \(\sin{A}=\frac{4}{5},\) and \(90^{\circ}\lt A \lt180^{\circ},\) find \(\tan{2A}\)
The answer is \(\frac{24}{7}\)

\(\,\,\,\,\, \sin{A}=\frac{4}{5}=\frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \text{opposite}=4, \text{hypotenuse}=5\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \text{(adjacent)}^2+4^2=5^2\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \text{adjacent}=-3\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{A}=\frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}=-\frac{4}{3}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=\frac{2\tan{A}}{1-\tan^2{A}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=\frac{2(-4/3)}{1-(-4/3)^2}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=\frac{-8/3}{1-16/9}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=\frac{-8/3}{9/9-16/9}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=\frac{-8/3}{-7/9}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=-\frac{8}{3}*\left(-\frac{9}{7}\right)\)
\(\,\,\,\,\, \tan{2A}=\frac{24}{7}\)
\(\textbf{13)}\) \(2 \sin (75) \cos (75) \)
The answer is \(\frac{1}{2}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,2\sin{x}\cos{x}=\sin(2x)\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,2\sin(75^\circ)\cos(75^\circ)=\sin(150^\circ)\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin(150^\circ)=\frac{1}{2}\)
\(\textbf{14)}\) \(\cos^2(22.5)-\sin^2(22.5)\)
The answer is \(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos^2{x}-\sin^2{x}=\cos(2x)\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos^2(22.5^\circ)-\sin^2(22.5^\circ)=\cos(45^\circ)\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(45^\circ)=\frac{\sqrt2}{2}\)
\(\textbf{15)}\) \(\displaystyle\frac{\sin{2x}}{\sin{x}}-\frac{\cos{2x}}{\cos{x}}=\sec{x}\)
Verified
\(\,\,\,\,\,\displaystyle\frac{\sin{2x}}{\sin{x}}-\frac{\cos{2x}}{\cos{x}}=\sec{x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Given}\right) \)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\displaystyle\frac{2\sin{x}\cos{x}}{\sin{x}}-\frac{2\cos^2{x}-1}{\cos{x}}=\sec{x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Double Angle Formulas}\right) \)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\displaystyle\frac{2\cos{x}}{1}-\frac{2\cos^2{x}-1}{\cos{x}}=\sec{x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Simplify}\right) \)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\displaystyle\frac{2\cos^2{x}}{\cos{x}}-\frac{2\cos^2{x}-1}{\cos{x}}=\sec{x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Common Denominator}\right) \)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\displaystyle\frac{2\cos^2{x}-\left(2\cos^2{x}-1\right)}{\cos{x}}=\sec{x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Combine into 1 fraction}\right) \)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\displaystyle\frac{2\cos^2{x}-2\cos^2{x}+1}{\cos{x}}=\sec{x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Distribute the negative}\right) \)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\displaystyle\frac{1}{\cos{x}}=\sec{x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Simplify}\right) \)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sec{x}=\sec{x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Reciprocal Identities}\right) \)
Challenge Problems
\(\textbf{16)}\) \(\displaystyle\frac{1-\tan^2{x}}{1+\tan^2{x}}=\cos{2x}\)
Verified
\(\,\,\,\,\,\displaystyle\frac{1-\tan^2{x}}{1+\tan^2{x}}=\cos{2x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Given}\right) \)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\displaystyle\frac{1-\tan^2{x}}{\sec^2{x}}=\cos{2x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Pythagorean Identities}\right) \)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\displaystyle\frac{\cos^2{x}\left(1-\tan^2{x}\right)}{1}=\cos{2x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Reciprocal Identities}\right) \)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos^2{x}-\cos^2{x}\tan^2{x}=\cos{2x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Distribution}\right) \)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos^2{x}-\cos^2{x}\frac{\sin^2{x}}{\cos^2{x}}=\cos{2x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Quotient Identities}\right) \)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos^2{x}-\sin^2{x}=\cos{2x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Simplify}\right)\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos{2x}=\cos{2x}\,\,\,\,\, \left(\text{Double Angle Formulas}\right)\)
\(\textbf{17)}\) \(\sin{A}=\frac{5}{13},\) and \(0^{\circ}\lt A \lt90^{\circ},\) find \(\sin{2A}\)
The answer is \(\frac{120}{169}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin{A}=\frac{5}{13}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,0^\circ\lt A\lt90^\circ,\text{ so }A\text{ is in Quadrant I}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos{A}=\frac{12}{13}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin(2A)=2\sin A\cos A\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin(2A)=2\left(\frac{5}{13}\right)\left(\frac{12}{13}\right)\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin(2A)=\frac{120}{169}\)
\(\textbf{18)}\) \(\cos{A}=-\frac{5}{13},\) and \(90^{\circ}\lt A \lt180^{\circ},\) find \(\cos{2A}\)
The answer is \(-\frac{119}{169}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos{A}=-\frac{5}{13}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,90^\circ\lt A \lt180^\circ,\text{ so }A\text{ is in Quadrant II}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin{A}=\frac{12}{13}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(2A)=\cos^2 A-\sin^2 A\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(2A)=\left(-\frac{5}{13}\right)^2-\left(\frac{12}{13}\right)^2\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(2A)=\frac{25}{169}-\frac{144}{169}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\cos(2A)=-\frac{119}{169}\)
\(\textbf{19)}\) \(\cos\theta=\frac{7}{25},\) and \(270^{\circ}\lt\theta\lt360^{\circ},\) find \(\sin\frac{\theta}{2}\)
The answer is \(\frac{3}{5}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,270^\circ\lt\theta\lt360^\circ,\text{ so }135^\circ\lt\frac{\theta}{2}\lt180^\circ\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\frac{\theta}{2}\text{ is in Quadrant II, so sine is positive.}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\frac{1-\cos\theta}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\frac{1-\frac{7}{25}}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\frac{\frac{18}{25}}{2}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\sqrt{\frac{9}{25}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\sin\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)=\frac{3}{5}\)
\(\textbf{20)}\) \(\tan\theta=-\frac{8}{15},\) and \(90^{\circ}\lt\theta\lt180^{\circ},\) find \(\tan{2\theta}\)
The answer is \(-\frac{240}{161}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(2\theta)=\frac{2\tan\theta}{1-\tan^2\theta}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(2\theta)=\frac{2\left(-\frac{8}{15}\right)}{1-\left(-\frac{8}{15}\right)^2}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(2\theta)=\frac{-\frac{16}{15}}{1-\frac{64}{225}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(2\theta)=\frac{-\frac{16}{15}}{\frac{161}{225}}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(2\theta)=-\frac{16}{15}\cdot\frac{225}{161}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\tan(2\theta)=-\frac{240}{161}\)
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