# Cosine A

• August 29th 2008, 03:48 AM
magentarita
Cosine A
Our teacher gave the class a challenge problem.

If z = tan(A/2), show that cos(A) = (1 - z^2)/(1 + z^2)

I know that replacing z^2 with tan(A/2) is a start but have no idea where to go from there.
• August 29th 2008, 03:59 AM
mr fantastic
Quote:

Originally Posted by magentarita
Our teacher gave the class a challenge problem.

If z = tan(A/2), show that cos(A) = (1 - z^2)/(1 + z^2)

I know that replacing z^2 with tan(A/2) is a start but have no idea where to go from there.

$\cos A = \cos \left( 2 \left[ \frac{A}{2} \right] \right) = 2 \cos^2 \left( \frac{A}{2} \right) - 1$.

$\tan \left( \frac{A}{2} \right) = z \Rightarrow \cos \left( \frac{A}{2} \right) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{z^2 + 1}}$.

Therefore $\cos A = \frac{2}{z^2 + 1} - 1 = ....$
• August 29th 2008, 04:04 AM
nikhil
Hope you know the identity
cos2A=(cosA)^2-(sinA)^2 which is equal to
cos2A=[(cosA)^2-(sinA)^2]/1
but (cosA)^2+(sinA)^2=1 therfor
cos2A=[(cosA)^2-(sinA)^2]/[(cosA)^2+(sinA)^2]
now dividing both numerator and denominator by (cosA)^2
we get
cos2A=[(1-(tanA)^2]/[(1+(tanA)^2]
now put A/2 in place of A and you get
cosA=[(1-(tanA/2)^2]/[(1+(tanA/2)^2]
but tanA/2=z therfor

cosA=[(1-z^2]/[(1+z^2]
hence proved
• August 29th 2008, 05:14 AM
magentarita
Better...
Quote:

Originally Posted by nikhil
Hope you know the identity
cos2A=(cosA)^2-(sinA)^2 which is equal to
cos2A=[(cosA)^2-(sinA)^2]/1
but (cosA)^2+(sinA)^2=1 therfor
cos2A=[(cosA)^2-(sinA)^2]/[(cosA)^2+(sinA)^2]
now dividing both numerator and denominator by (cosA)^2
we get
cos2A=[(1-(tanA)^2]/[(1+(tanA)^2]
now put A/2 in place of A and you get
cosA=[(1-(tanA/2)^2]/[(1+(tanA/2)^2]
but tanA/2=z therfor

cosA=[(1-z^2]/[(1+z^2]
hence proved

A much better reply and easier to follow.