Trigonometry Section 1: Trigonometric identities

Proof of double-angle formulae

You can prove these by putting B = A in the compound-angle formula. From: Putting B = A: So:

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

From: Putting B = A: So:

tan A + tan B 1 tan A tan B tan A + tan A tan( A + A) = 1 tan A tan A 2 tan A tan 2 A = 1 tan 2 A tan( A + B ) =

From: Putting B = A: So:

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

There are two more alternative forms for

Using the Pythagorean identity: Rearranging: Substituting this into gives: So:

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

Using the Pythagorean identity: Rearranging: Substituting this into gives: So:

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

MEI, 20/09/05

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