DOUBLE-ANGLE

IDENTITIES
First group of the sum and difference identities
 The identities for sin , cos , and tan  can
be used to derive identities for sin 2, and tan 2.

sin  = sin cos + cos sin

sin  = sin cos + cos sin tan  + tan 
tan  =
sin 2 = 2 sin cos 1 − tan  tan 
tan  + tan 
tan  =
1 − tan  tan 
2𝑡𝑎𝑛
cos  = cos cos - sin sin .tan 2 =
1 −𝑡𝑎𝑛2 
cos  = cos cos - sin sin
cos 2 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2  - 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 
 Two alternate forms of cos 2 can be derived
using 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2  + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2  = 1.

Alternate Form 1 (cosine form) Alternate Form 2 (sine form)

cos 2 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2  - 𝑠𝑖𝑛2  cos 2 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2  - 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 
= 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2  - ( 1 - 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2  ) = ( 1 - 𝑠𝑖𝑛2  ) - 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 
= 2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2  - 1 = 1 - 2𝑠𝑖𝑛2 
DOUBLE-ANGLE IDENTITIES
› sin 2 = 2 sin  cos 
2 tan 
› tan 2 = , tan    1
1 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛 
2

› cos 2 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠  - 𝑠𝑖𝑛 

2 2

› cos 2 = 2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2  - 1
› cos 2 = 1 - 2𝑠𝑖𝑛 2
Example 1
4
If sin  = - and 270 <  < 360, find the exact values of each:
5
y
a. sin 2 b. cos 2 c. tan 2
 x
3
4 0
Sin  = - and  is in quadrant IV.
5 -4
5
Use y = -4 and r = 5, find the value of x.
(3, - 4)
x= (5)2 − (−4)2 =  9 = 3

3 4
Since  is the quadrant IV, x = 3. Thus, cos  = and tan  = - .
5 3
4 3 24
a. sin 2 = 2 (− )( ) = - sin 2 = 2 sin  cos 
5 5 25
4 7
b. cos 2 = 1 - 2(− )2 = - cos 2 = 1 - 2𝑠𝑖𝑛2 
5 25
4
2(− )
3 24 2 tan 
c. tan 2 = = tan 2 =
4 2
1 −(−53 ) 7 1 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 
Example 2
Derive an identity for cos 3 in terms of cos .

cos 3 = cos (2 + )

= cos 2 cos  - sin 2 sin 
= (2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2  - 1) cos  - (2 sin cos ) sin 
= 2𝑐𝑜𝑠 3  - cos  - 2𝑠𝑖𝑛2  cos 
= 2𝑐𝑜𝑠 3  - cos  - 2 (1 - 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 ) cos 
= 2𝑐𝑜𝑠 3  - cos  - 2cos + 2𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 
= 4𝑐𝑜𝑠 3  - 3 cos 
Example 3
2 tan 
Prove sin 2 = 1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2

2 tan  1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2  =𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 

sin 2
1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 

sin  1
2 tan  tan  = ; 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2  =
cos  𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 
𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 

2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 Multiply numerator and denominator by

cos 
1
𝑐𝑜𝑠2 
𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 .

2 tan 
2 sin  cos  Thus, sin 2 = .
1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 

= sin 2
Exercises
Use the double-angle identities to find the exact value of
each trigonometric function.

3
1. If cos  = and 0 <  < 90, find cos 2.
5
3
2. If sin  = and 0 <  < 90, find cos 2.
5
4
3. If tan  = and 0 <  < 90, find tan 2.
3
3
4. If tan  = and 0 <  < 90, find tan 2.
4
4
5. If sin  = and 90 <  < 180, find sin 2.
5
Prove each identity.

1 − tan2 
1. cos 2 =
sec2 

1
2. sin2  = (1 – cos 2)
2

cot + tan
3. sec 2 =
cot − tan

4. (cos − sin)2 = 1 – sin 2

5. sin 4 = 4 sin  cos  cos 2

Applications
› Indirect Measurement. A pole casts a shadow of 25 ft at
one time and a shadow of 10 ft at a later time when the
angle of elevation is twice as large. Find the height h of the
pole, to the nearest foot.

 2
10 ft
25 ft
Applications
› Indirect Measurement. The World Trade Center in New
York City casts a 3404 ft shadow at one time and a 1426 ft
shadow at a later time when the angle of elevation is twice
as large. Find the height x of the World Trade Center, to
the nearest foot.

 2
10 ft
3408 ft