Tips for Solving Half Angle Identities with Horizontal Shifts

AI Thread Summary
Half angle identities can be challenging, especially when incorporating horizontal shifts. The formula for tangent involving a half angle with a shift, tan(1/2(ß + π/2)), simplifies to (1 + sin ß) / cos ß. Understanding the effect of a horizontal shift on sine and cosine graphs is crucial, as shifting left by π/2 alters their positions. This shift transforms the sine function into a cosine function and vice versa. Mastering these concepts will aid in solving half angle identities effectively.
dranseth
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Homework Statement


I'm on the last section of identities entitled half angle identities. This one seems to give me some trouble because I have never encountered one with a horizontal shift in it. Tips?

tan 1/2( ß + π/2 ) = ( 1 + sin ß ) / cos ß
 
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Recall that:

\tan(\theta)=\frac{\sin(\theta)}{\cos(\theta)}

Now, what do the graphs of the sine and cosine functions look like when you shift them to the left by \frac{\pi}{2} rad?
 
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