Section 7.

3 Double Angle Identities 431

Section 7.3 Double Angle Identities

Two special cases of the sum of angles identities arise often enough that we choose to
state these identities separately.

Identities
The double angle identities
sin(2α ) = 2 sin(α ) cos(α )
cos(2α ) = cos 2 (α ) − sin 2 (α )
= 1 − 2 sin 2 (α )
= 2 cos 2 (α ) − 1

These identities follow from the sum of angles identities.

Proof of the sine double angle identity

sin(2α )
= sin(α + α ) Apply the sum of angles identity
= sin(α ) cos(α ) + cos(α ) sin(α ) Simplify
= 2 sin(α ) cos(α ) Establishing the identity

Try it Now
1. Show cos(2α ) = cos 2 (α ) − sin 2 (α ) by using the sum of angles identity for cosine.

For the cosine double angle identity, there are three forms of the identity stated because
the basic form, cos(2α ) = cos 2 (α ) − sin 2 (α ) , can be rewritten using the Pythagorean
Identity. Rearranging the Pythagorean Identity results in the
equality cos 2 (α ) = 1 − sin 2 (α ) , and by substituting this into the basic double angle
identity, we obtain the second form of the double angle identity.

cos(2α ) = cos 2 (α ) − sin 2 (α ) Substituting using the Pythagorean identity

cos(2α ) = 1 − sin 2 (α ) − sin 2 (α ) Simplifying
cos(2α ) = 1 − 2 sin 2 (α )
432 Chapter 7

Example 1
3
If sin(θ ) = and θ is in the second quadrant, find exact values for sin(2θ ) and
5
cos(2θ ) .

To evaluate cos(2θ ) , since we know the value for sin(θ ) , we can use the version of the
double angle that only involves sine.
2
3 18 7
cos(2θ ) = 1 − 2 sin 2 (θ ) = 1 − 2  = 1 − =
5 25 25

Since the double angle for sine involves both sine and cosine, we’ll need to first find
cos(θ ) , which we can do using the Pythagorean Identity.
sin 2 (θ ) + cos 2 (θ ) = 1
2
3
  + cos (θ ) = 1
2

5
9
cos 2 (θ ) = 1 −
25
16 4
cos(θ ) = ± =±
25 5

Since θ is in the second quadrant, we know that cos(θ) < 0, so

4
cos(θ ) = −
5

Now we can evaluate the sine double angle

 3  4  24
sin( 2θ ) = 2 sin(θ ) cos(θ ) = 2  −  = −
 5  5  25

Example 2
Simplify the expressions
a) 2 cos 2 (12°) − 1 b) 8 sin (3 x ) cos(3 x )

a) Notice that the expression is in the same form as one version of the double angle
identity for cosine: cos(2θ ) = 2 cos 2 (θ ) − 1 . Using this,
2 cos 2 (12°) − 1 = cos(2 ⋅ 12°) = cos(24°)

b) This expression looks similar to the result of the double angle identity for sine.
8 sin (3 x ) cos(3 x ) Factoring a 4 out of the original expression
4 ⋅ 2 sin (3 x ) cos(3 x ) Applying the double angle identity
4 sin(6 x)
 Section 7.3 Double Angle Identities 433

We can use the double angle identities to simplify expressions and prove identities.

Example 2
cos(2t )
Simplify .
cos(t ) − sin(t )

With three choices for how to rewrite the double angle, we need to consider which will
be the most useful. To simplify this expression, it would be great if the denominator
would cancel with something in the numerator, which would require a factor of
cos(t ) − sin(t ) in the numerator, which is most likely to occur if we rewrite the
numerator with a mix of sine and cosine.

cos(2t )
Apply the double angle identity
cos(t ) − sin(t )
cos 2 (t ) − sin 2 (t )
= Factor the numerator
cos(t ) − sin(t )
=
(cos(t ) − sin(t ) )(cos(t ) + sin(t ) ) Cancelling the common factor
cos(t ) − sin(t )
= cos(t ) + sin(t ) Resulting in the most simplified form

Example 3
sec 2 (α )
Prove sec(2α ) = .
2 − sec 2 (α )

Since the right side seems a bit more complicated than the left side, we begin there.
sec 2 (α )
Rewrite the secants in terms of cosine
2 − sec 2 (α )
1
cos 2 (α )
=
1
2−
cos 2 (α )

At this point, we could rewrite the bottom with common denominators, subtract the
terms, invert and multiply, then simplify. Alternatively, we can multiple both the top
and bottom by cos 2 (α ) , the common denominator:
1
⋅ cos 2 (α )
cos 2 (α )
= Distribute on the bottom
 1 
 2 −  ⋅ cos (α )
2

 cos 2 (α ) 
434 Chapter 7

cos 2 (α )
cos 2 (α )
= Simplify
cos 2 (α )
2 cos 2 (α ) − ⋅
cos 2 (α )
1
= Rewrite the denominator as a double angle
2 cos (α ) − 1
2

1
= Rewrite as a secant
cos(2α )
= sec(2α ) Establishing the identity

Try it Now
2. Use an identity to find the exact value of cos 2 (75°) − sin 2 (75°) .

As with other identities, we can also use the double angle identities for solving equations.

Example 4
Solve cos(2t ) = cos(t ) for all solutions with 0 ≤ t < 2π .

In general when solving trig equations, it makes things more complicated when we have
a mix of sines and cosines and when we have a mix of functions with different periods.
In this case, we can use a double angle identity to rewrite the cos(2t). When choosing
which form of the double angle identity to use, we notice that we have a cosine on the
right side of the equation. We try to limit our equation to one trig function, which we
can do by choosing the version of the double angle formula for cosine that only
involves cosine.

cos(2t ) = cos(t ) Apply the double angle identity

2
2 cos (t ) − 1 = cos(t ) This is quadratic in cosine, so make one side 0
2 cos 2 (t ) − cos(t ) − 1 = 0 Factor
(2 cos(t ) + 1)(cos(t ) − 1) = 0 Break this apart to solve each part separately

2 cos(t ) + 1 = 0 or cos(t ) − 1 = 0
1
cos(t ) = − or cos(t ) = 1
2
2π 4π
t= or t = or t=0
3 3

Looking at a graph of cos(2t) and cos(t) shown

together, we can verify that these three solutions on [0, 2π) seem reasonable.
 Section 7.3 Double Angle Identities 435

Example 5
A cannonball is fired with velocity of 100 meters per second. If it is launched at an
angle of θ, the vertical component of the velocity will be 100 sin(θ ) and the horizontal
component will be 100 cos(θ ) . Ignoring wind resistance, the height of the cannonball
will follow the equation h(t ) = −4.9t 2 + 100 sin(θ )t and horizontal position will follow
the equation x(t ) = 100 cos(θ )t . If you want to hit a target 900 meters away, at what
angle should you aim the cannon?

To hit the target 900 meters away, we want x(t ) = 900 at the time when the cannonball
hits the ground, when h(t ) = 0 . To solve this problem, we will first solve for the time,
t, when the cannonball hits the ground. Our answer will depend upon the angle θ .

h(t ) = 0
− 4.9t 2 + 100 sin(θ )t = 0 Factor
t (− 4.9t + 100 sin(θ ) ) = 0 Break this apart to find two solutions

t = 0 or
− 4.9t + 100 sin(θ ) = 0 Solve for t
− 4.9t = −100 sin(θ )
100 sin(θ )
t=
4.9

This shows that the height is 0 twice, once at t = 0 when the cannonball is fired, and
again when the cannonball hits the ground after flying through the air. This second
value of t gives the time when the ball hits the ground in terms of the angle θ . We
want the horizontal distance x(t) to be 900 when the ball hits the ground, in other words
100 sin(θ )
when t = .
4.9

Since the target is 900 m away we start with

x(t ) = 900 Use the formula for x(t)

100 cos(θ )t = 900 Substitute the desired time, t from above

100 sin(θ )
100 cos(θ ) = 900 Simplify
4.9
100 2
cos(θ ) sin(θ ) = 900 Isolate the cosine and sine product
4.9
900(4.9)
cos(θ ) sin(θ ) =
100 2
436 Chapter 7

The left side of this equation almost looks like the result of the double angle identity for
sine: sin(2θ ) = 2 sin (θ ) cos(θ ) .

By dividing both sides of the double angle identity by 2, we get

1
sin( 2α ) = sin(α ) cos(α ) . Applying this to the equation above,
2

1 900(4.9)
sin( 2θ ) = Multiply by 2
2 100 2
2(900)(4.9)
sin( 2θ ) = Use the inverse sine
100 2
 2(900)(4.9) 
2θ = sin −1  2  ≈ 1.080 Divide by 2
 100 
1.080
θ= = 0.540 , or about 30.94 degrees
2

Power Reduction and Half Angle Identities

Another use of the cosine double angle identities is to use them in reverse to rewrite a
squared sine or cosine in terms of the double angle. Starting with one form of the cosine
double angle identity:
cos(2α ) = 2 cos 2 (α ) − 1 Isolate the cosine squared term
cos(2α ) + 1 = 2 cos (α )
2
Add 1
cos(2α ) + 1
cos 2 (α ) = Divide by 2
2
cos(2α ) + 1
cos 2 (α ) = This is called a power reduction identity
2

Try it Now
3. Use another form of the cosine double angle identity to prove the identity
1 − cos(2α )
sin 2 (α ) = .
2

Example 6
Rewrite cos 4 ( x) without any powers.

( )
2
Since cos 4 ( x) = cos 2 ( x) , we can use the formula we found above
(
cos 4 ( x) = cos 2 ( x) )
2
 Section 7.3 Double Angle Identities 437

2
 cos(2 x) + 1 
=  Square the numerator and denominator
 2 
( cos(2 x) + 1)
2

= Expand the numerator

4
2
cos (2 x) + 2 cos(2 x) + 1
= Split apart the fraction
4
2
cos (2 x) 2 cos(2 x) 1
= + + Apply the formula above to cos 2 (2 x)
4 4 4
cos(2 ⋅ 2 x) + 1
cos 2 (2 x) =
2
 cos(4 x) + 1 
 
=  2  + 2 cos(2 x) + 1 Simplify
4 4 4
cos(4 x) 1 1 1
= + + cos(2 x) + Combine the constants
8 8 2 4
cos(4 x) 1 3
= + cos(2 x) +
8 2 8

The cosine double angle identities can also be used in reverse for evaluating angles that
cos(2α ) + 1
are half of a common angle. Building from our formula cos 2 (α ) = , if we let
2
θ  θ  cos(θ ) + 1
θ = 2α , then α = this identity becomes cos 2   = . Taking the square
2 2 2
root, we obtain
θ  cos(θ ) + 1
cos  = ± , where the sign is determined by the quadrant.
2 2
This is called a half-angle identity.

Try it Now
4. Use your results from the last Try it Now to prove the identity
θ  1 − cos(θ )
sin   = ± .
2 2

Example 7
Find an exact value for cos(15°) .

Since 15 degrees is half of 30 degrees, we can use our result from above:
438 Chapter 7

 30°  cos(30°) + 1
cos(15°) = cos =±
 2  2

We can evaluate the cosine. Since 15 degrees is in the first quadrant, we need the
positive result.
3
+1
cos(30°) + 1 2
=
2 2
3 1
= +
4 2

Identities
Half-Angle Identities
θ  cos(θ ) + 1 θ  1 − cos(θ )
cos  = ± sin   = ±
2 2 2 2

Power Reduction Identities

cos(2α ) + 1 1 − cos(2α )
cos 2 (α ) = sin 2 (α ) =
2 2

Since these identities are easy to derive from the double-angle identities, the power
reduction and half-angle identities are not ones you should need to memorize separately.

Important Topics of This Section

Double angle identity
Power reduction identity
Half angle identity
Using identities
Simplify equations
Prove identities
Solve equations

Try it Now Answers

cos(2α ) = cos(α + α )
1. cos(α ) cos(α ) − sin(α ) sin(α )
cos 2 (α ) − sin 2 (α )
 Section 7.3 Double Angle Identities 439

− 3
2. cos(150°) =
2

1 − cos(2α )
2
1 − ( cos 2 (α ) − sin 2 (α ) )
2
1 − cos (α ) + sin 2 (α )
2
3.
2
sin (α ) + sin 2 (α )
2

2
2sin (α )
2
= sin 2 (α )
2

1 − cos(2α )
sin 2 (α ) =
2
1 − cos(2α )
sin(α ) = ±
2
θ
4. α =
2
 θ 
1 − cos 2  
θ 
sin   = ±   2 
2 2
θ  1 − cos(θ )
sin   = ±
2 2
440 Chapter 7

Section 7.3 Exercises

1
1. If sin ( x ) = and x is in quadrant I, then find exact values for (without solving for x):
8
a. sin ( 2x ) b. cos ( 2x ) c. tan ( 2x )

2
2. If cos ( x ) = and x is in quadrant I, then find exact values for (without solving for x):
3
a. sin ( 2x ) b. cos ( 2x ) c. tan ( 2x )

Simplify each expression.

3. cos 2 ( 28° ) − sin 2 (28°) 4. 2 cos 2 ( 37° ) − 1
5. 1 − 2sin 2 (17°) 6. cos 2 ( 37° ) − sin 2 (37°)
7. cos 2 ( 9 x ) − sin 2 (9 x) 8. cos 2 ( 6 x ) − sin 2 (6 x)
9. 4sin ( 8 x ) cos(8 x) 10. 6sin ( 5 x ) cos(5 x)

Solve for all solutions on the interval [0, 2π ) .

11. 6sin ( 2t ) + 9sin ( t ) =
0 12. 2sin ( 2t ) + 3cos ( t ) =
0
cos ( 2θ ) 9 cos 2 (θ ) − 4
13. 9= 14. 8cos
= ( 2α ) 8cos 2 (α ) − 1
15. sin ( 2t ) = cos ( t ) 16. cos ( 2t ) = sin ( t )
17. cos ( 6 x ) − cos ( 3 x ) =
0 18. sin ( 4 x ) − sin ( 2 x ) =
0

Use a double angle, half angle, or power reduction formula to rewrite without exponents.
19. cos 2 (5 x) 20. cos 2 (6 x)
21. sin 4 (8 x) 22. sin 4 ( 3x )
23. cos 2 x sin 4 x 24. cos 4 x sin 2 x

25. If csc ( x ) = 7 and 90° < x < 180° , then find exact values for (without solving for x):
x x x
a. sin   b. cos   c. tan  
2 2 2

26. If sec ( x ) = 4 and 90° < x < 180° , then find exact values for (without solving for x):
x x x
a. sin   b. cos   c. tan  
2 2 2
 Section 7.3 Double Angle Identities 441

Prove the identity.

27. ( sin t − cos t ) =1 − sin ( 2t )
2

28. ( sin 2 x −=
1) cos ( 2 x ) + sin 4 x
2

2 tan ( x )
29. sin ( 2 x ) =
1 + tan 2 ( x )
2sin ( x ) cos ( x )
30. tan ( 2 x ) =
2 cos 2 ( x ) − 1
31. cot ( x ) − tan ( x ) =
2 cot ( 2 x )
sin ( 2θ )
32. = tan (θ )
1 + cos ( 2θ )
1 − tan 2 (α )
33. cos ( 2α ) =
1 + tan 2 (α )
1 + cos ( 2t ) 2 cos ( t )
34. =
sin ( 2t ) − cos ( t ) 2sin ( t ) − 1
35. sin ( 3 x ) 3sin ( x ) cos 2 ( x ) − sin 3 ( x)
=
36. cos
= ( 3x ) cos3 ( x) − 3sin 2 ( x) cos ( x )