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Given that sin α = 4 5 and α lies in quadrant IV, find the exact value of cos ( α 2 ) .

2 5

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Finding the measurement of a half angle

Now, we will return to the problem posed at the beginning of the section. A bicycle ramp is constructed for high-level competition with an angle of θ formed by the ramp and the ground. Another ramp is to be constructed half as steep for novice competition. If tan θ = 5 3 for higher-level competition, what is the measurement of the angle for novice competition?

Since the angle for novice competition measures half the steepness of the angle for the high level competition, and tan θ = 5 3 for high competition, we can find cos θ from the right triangle and the Pythagorean theorem so that we can use the half-angle identities. See [link] .

3 2 + 5 2 = 34            c = 34
Image of a right triangle with sides 3, 5, and rad34. Rad 34 is the hypotenuse, and 3 is the base. The angle formed by the hypotenuse and base is theta. The angle between the side of length 3 and side of length 5 is a right angle.

We see that cos θ = 3 34 = 3 34 34 . We can use the half-angle formula for tangent: tan θ 2 = 1 cos θ 1 + cos θ . Since tan θ is in the first quadrant, so is tan θ 2 . Thus,

tan θ 2 = 1 3 34 34 1 + 3 34 34          = 34 3 34 34 34 + 3 34 34          = 34 3 34 34 + 3 34          0.57

We can take the inverse tangent to find the angle: tan 1 ( 0.57 ) 29.7 . So the angle of the ramp for novice competition is 29.7 .

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Access these online resources for additional instruction and practice with double-angle, half-angle, and reduction formulas.

Key equations

Double-angle formulas sin ( 2 θ ) = 2 sin θ cos θ cos ( 2 θ ) = cos 2 θ sin 2 θ             = 1 2 sin 2 θ             = 2 cos 2 θ 1 tan ( 2 θ ) = 2 tan θ 1 tan 2 θ
Reduction formulas sin 2 θ = 1 cos ( 2 θ ) 2 cos 2 θ = 1 + cos ( 2 θ ) 2 tan 2 θ = 1 cos ( 2 θ ) 1 + cos ( 2 θ )
Half-angle formulas sin α 2 = ± 1 cos α 2 cos α 2 = ± 1 + cos α 2 tan α 2 = ± 1 cos α 1 + cos α          = sin α 1 + cos α          = 1 cos α sin α

Key concepts

  • Double-angle identities are derived from the sum formulas of the fundamental trigonometric functions: sine, cosine, and tangent. See [link] , [link] , [link] , and [link] .
  • Reduction formulas are especially useful in calculus, as they allow us to reduce the power of the trigonometric term. See [link] and [link] .
  • Half-angle formulas allow us to find the value of trigonometric functions involving half-angles, whether the original angle is known or not. See [link] , [link] , and [link] .

Section exercises

Verbal

Explain how to determine the reduction identities from the double-angle identity cos ( 2 x ) = cos 2 x sin 2 x .

Use the Pythagorean identities and isolate the squared term.

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Explain how to determine the double-angle formula for tan ( 2 x ) using the double-angle formulas for cos ( 2 x ) and sin ( 2 x ) .

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We can determine the half-angle formula for tan ( x 2 ) = 1 cos x 1 + cos x by dividing the formula for sin ( x 2 ) by cos ( x 2 ) . Explain how to determine two formulas for tan ( x 2 ) that do not involve any square roots.

1 cos x sin x , sin x 1 + cos x , multiplying the top and bottom by 1 cos x and 1 + cos x , respectively.

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For the half-angle formula given in the previous exercise for tan ( x 2 ) , explain why dividing by 0 is not a concern. (Hint: examine the values of cos x necessary for the denominator to be 0.)

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Algebraic

For the following exercises, find the exact values of a) sin ( 2 x ) , b) cos ( 2 x ) , and c) tan ( 2 x ) without solving for x .

If sin x = 1 8 , and x is in quadrant I.

a) 3 7 32 b) 31 32 c) 3 7 31

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Questions & Answers

for the "hiking" mix, there are 1,000 pieces in the mix, containing 390.8 g of fat, and 165 g of protein. if there is the same amount of almonds as cashews, how many of each item is in the trail mix?
ADNAN Reply
linear speed of an object
Melissa Reply
an object is traveling around a circle with a radius of 13 meters .if in 20 seconds a central angle of 1/7 Radian is swept out what are the linear and angular speed of the object
Melissa
test
Matrix
how to find domain
Mohamed Reply
like this: (2)/(2-x) the aim is to see what will not be compatible with this rational expression. If x= 0 then the fraction is undefined since we cannot divide by zero. Therefore, the domain consist of all real numbers except 2.
Dan
define the term of domain
Moha
if a>0 then the graph is concave
Angel Reply
if a<0 then the graph is concave blank
Angel
what's a domain
Kamogelo Reply
The set of all values you can use as input into a function su h that the output each time will be defined, meaningful and real.
Spiro
how fast can i understand functions without much difficulty
Joe Reply
what is inequalities
Nathaniel
functions can be understood without a lot of difficulty. Observe the following: f(2) 2x - x 2(2)-2= 2 now observe this: (2,f(2)) ( 2, -2) 2(-x)+2 = -2 -4+2=-2
Dan
what is set?
Kelvin Reply
a colony of bacteria is growing exponentially doubling in size every 100 minutes. how much minutes will it take for the colony of bacteria to triple in size
Divya Reply
I got 300 minutes. is it right?
Patience
no. should be about 150 minutes.
Jason
It should be 158.5 minutes.
Mr
ok, thanks
Patience
100•3=300 300=50•2^x 6=2^x x=log_2(6) =2.5849625 so, 300=50•2^2.5849625 and, so, the # of bacteria will double every (100•2.5849625) = 258.49625 minutes
Thomas
158.5 This number can be developed by using algebra and logarithms. Begin by moving log(2) to the right hand side of the equation like this: t/100 log(2)= log(3) step 1: divide each side by log(2) t/100=1.58496250072 step 2: multiply each side by 100 to isolate t. t=158.49
Dan
what is the importance knowing the graph of circular functions?
Arabella Reply
can get some help basic precalculus
ismail Reply
What do you need help with?
Andrew
how to convert general to standard form with not perfect trinomial
Camalia Reply
can get some help inverse function
ismail
Rectangle coordinate
Asma Reply
how to find for x
Jhon Reply
it depends on the equation
Robert
yeah, it does. why do we attempt to gain all of them one side or the other?
Melissa
how to find x: 12x = 144 notice how 12 is being multiplied by x. Therefore division is needed to isolate x and whatever we do to one side of the equation we must do to the other. That develops this: x= 144/12 divide 144 by 12 to get x. addition: 12+x= 14 subtract 12 by each side. x =2
Dan
whats a domain
mike Reply
The domain of a function is the set of all input on which the function is defined. For example all real numbers are the Domain of any Polynomial function.
Spiro
Spiro; thanks for putting it out there like that, 😁
Melissa
foci (–7,–17) and (–7,17), the absolute value of the differenceof the distances of any point from the foci is 24.
Churlene Reply
Practice Key Terms 3

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Source:  OpenStax, Precalculus. OpenStax CNX. Jan 19, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11667/1.6
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