MHB Can Trig Identities be Derived from Easier Formulas?

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The discussion explores the derivation of trigonometric identities, specifically focusing on whether the formula for tan(2a) can be derived from simpler formulas, similar to how sin(2a) and cos(2a) can be derived from Euler's identity. Participants suggest using the addition formula for tangent, which states that tan(A+B) = (tan(A) + tan(B)) / (1 - tan(A)tan(B)), as a straightforward method. Another approach discussed involves expressing tan(2a) as sin(2a)/cos(2a) and manipulating it using known values for sin(2a) and cos(2a). The conversation also touches on geometric methods for deriving sine addition formulas. Overall, the thread emphasizes the connections between different trigonometric identities and their derivations.
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I know you can derive the double angle formulas for sin(2a) and cos(2a) from Euler's identity, but is there any way to derive the tan(2a) in a similar manner from an easier formula? What about the addition/subtraction formulas (i.e. sin(a+b), etc.)
 
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daigo said:
I know you can derive the double angle formulas for sin(2a) and cos(2a) from Euler's identity, but is there any way to derive the tan(2a) in a similar manner from an easier formula? What about the addition/subtraction formulas (i.e. sin(a+b), etc.)

Using the addition formula for tan would be the easiest: $\tan(A+B) = \frac{\tan(A)+\tan(B)}{1-\tan(A)\tan(B)}$

Alternatively you can use the fact that $\tan(ax) = \frac{\sin(ax)}{\cos(ax)}$ (where a is a constant) together with your values for sin(2a) and cos(2a).
 
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daigo said:
I know you can derive the double angle formulas for sin(2a) and cos(2a) from Euler's identity, but is there any way to derive the tan(2a) in a similar manner from an easier formula? What about the addition/subtraction formulas (i.e. sin(a+b), etc.)

\[\tan(2a)=\frac{\sin(2a)}{\cos(2a)}=\frac{2\sin(a) \cos(a)}{\cos^2(a)-\sin^2(a)}\]

Now divide top and bottom by \(\cos^2(a)\)

CB
 
daigo said:
I know you can derive the double angle formulas for sin(2a) and cos(2a) from Euler's identity, but is there any way to derive the tan(2a) in a similar manner from an easier formula? What about the addition/subtraction formulas (i.e. sin(a+b), etc.)

In...

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/TrigonometricAdditionFormulas.html

... a purely geometric way to obtain the sine of the sum of two angles is given...

Kind regards

chi sigma
 
I have been insisting to my statistics students that for probabilities, the rule is the number of significant figures is the number of digits past the leading zeros or leading nines. For example to give 4 significant figures for a probability: 0.000001234 and 0.99999991234 are the correct number of decimal places. That way the complementary probability can also be given to the same significant figures ( 0.999998766 and 0.00000008766 respectively). More generally if you have a value that...

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