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sin 2x = 2 sin x cos x

Part of the Trig Identities section of Coddy's Trigonometry journey. Lesson 28 of 48.

Put B = A into the sum formula: sin⁡(A+A)=sin⁡(A)cos⁡(A)+cos⁡(A)sin⁡(A)\sin\left(A+A\right) = \sin\left(A\right)\cos\left(A\right)+\cos\left(A\right)\sin\left(A\right). The two products are the same, so

sin⁡(2x)=2sin⁡(x)cos⁡(x)\sin\left(2x\right) = 2\sin\left(x\right)\cos\left(x\right)

Doubling the angle does not double the sine: at 30°, sin⁡(60∘)\sin\left(60^{\circ}\right) is about 0.87, not 2sin⁡(30∘)=12\sin\left(30^{\circ}\right) = 1. The 2 comes out only together with the cos x.

Take sin⁡(2x)cos⁡(x)\frac{\sin\left(2x\right)}{\cos\left(x\right)}. Write the top as 2sin⁡(x)cos⁡(x)2\sin\left(x\right)\cos\left(x\right); the bottom cos x is now a factor of the top, so it cancels and leaves 2sin⁡(x)2\sin\left(x\right), wherever cos x is not 0.

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Challenge

Show that sin⁡(2x)sin⁡(x)\frac{\sin\left(2x\right)}{\sin\left(x\right)} equals 2cos⁡(x)2\cos\left(x\right): rewrite it until the board reads 2cos⁡(x)2\cos\left(x\right). Then press Check.

Try it yourself

sin⁡2xsin⁡x\frac{\sin 2x}{\sin x}

Rewrite as 2cos⁡x2\cos x

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