Derivation of the tangent half angle identity I'm having

Dexter Odom

Dexter Odom

Answered question

2022-03-28

Derivation of the tangent half angle identity
I'm having trouble proceeding from
sin(θ)1+cos(θ)
to
tan(θ2)
Context:
Consider the function f defined for all (x,y) such that y0 with the rule
f(x,y)=yx2+y2+x
Show that
f(rcos(θ),rsin(θ))=tan(θ2)
So far I've done:
f(rcos(θ),rsin(θ))=rsin(θ)r2cos2(θ)+r2sin2(θ)+rcos(θ)=rsin(θ)r2+rcos(θ)
=sin(θ)1+cos(θ)
Using
cos(θ)=2cos2(θ2)12cos2(θ2)=cos(θ)+1
We get
f(rcos(θ),rsin(θ))=sin(θ)2cos2(θ2)

Answer & Explanation

Drahthaare89c

Drahthaare89c

Beginner2022-03-29Added 19 answers

Hint: The numerator can be written as
sinθ=sin(2θ2)=2sinθ2cosθ2
Ruben Gibson

Ruben Gibson

Beginner2022-03-30Added 9 answers

It is a lot easier to use some trig. identities:
sin(θ)=2sin(θ2)cos(θ2) and 1+cosθ=2cos2(θ2). You will immediately get the result from these two formulas.

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