# Simplify

• January 17th 2010, 12:34 AM
p75213
Simplify
I have been teaching myself calculus and in the process came across this equation:- 1/2*sin x/2*cos x/2. Can somebody show me how to simplify it? I am sure it involves the identity sin 2x=2*sin x*cos x.
• January 17th 2010, 01:00 AM
Prove It
Quote:

Originally Posted by p75213
I have been teaching myself calculus and in the process came across this equation:- 1/2*sin x/2*cos x/2. Can somebody show me how to simplify it? I am sure it involves the identity sin 2x=2*sin x*cos x.

$\frac{1}{2}\sin{\frac{x}{2}}\cos{\frac{x}{2}}$?

Yes, you do use the identity $\sin{2\theta} = 2\sin{\theta}\cos{\theta}$.

If you let $\theta = \frac{x}{2}$

we have $\frac{1}{2}\sin{\theta}\cos{\theta}$

$= \frac{1}{4}\cdot 2\sin{\theta}\cos{\theta}$

$= \frac{1}{4}\sin{2\theta}$

$= \frac{1}{4}\sin{\frac{2x}{2}}$

$= \frac{1}{4}\sin{x}$.
• January 17th 2010, 01:24 AM
p75213
Many Thanks for the quick response.
I won't tell you how long I stuffed around with this. Tricky little bugger - but not so difficult when somebody shows you how. Text books that just give you the answer without showing you how it was arrived at drive me nuts.
• January 17th 2010, 05:03 PM
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Can you buy a solutions book that goes with your text book?
• January 17th 2010, 07:09 PM
p75213
The solutions are given but sometimes the workings are very brief (important chunks missed out). In most cases I have been able to figure it out with the help of google. However it would be a time saver if everything was in the answer given without having to go searching on the internet.