Double Angle Identities Calculator

Calculate sin(2θ), cos(2θ), and tan(2θ) using double angle trigonometric identities

Calculate Double Angle Identities

Current: 30° = 0.5236 rad

Choose which formulas to display

Single Angle Values

0.500000
sin(θ)
0.866025
cos(θ)
0.577350
tan(θ)

Double Angle Results (2θ = 60°)

0.866025
sin(2θ)
0.500000
cos(2θ)
1.732051
tan(2θ)

Standard Formulas

sin(2θ) = 2sin(θ)cos(θ) = 2 × 0.5000 × 0.8660 = 0.866025

cos(2θ) = cos²(θ) - sin²(θ) = 0.7500 - 0.2500 = 0.500000

tan(2θ) = 2tan(θ)/(1 - tan²(θ)) = 2×0.5774/(1 - 0.3333) = 1.732051

Verification (Direct Calculation)

sin(60°) = 0.866025

cos(60°) = 0.500000

tan(60°) = 1.732051

Example Calculation

Finding cos(120°) using double angle identity

Given: We want to find cos(120°)

Note: 120° = 2 × 60°, so we can use the double angle formula

Known: sin(60°) = √3/2 ≈ 0.866, cos(60°) = 1/2 = 0.5

Solution

cos(120°) = cos(2 × 60°)

Using: cos(2θ) = cos²(θ) - sin²(θ)

cos(120°) = cos²(60°) - sin²(60°)

cos(120°) = (1/2)² - (√3/2)²

cos(120°) = 1/4 - 3/4 = -2/4 = -0.5

Double Angle Formulas

Sine

sin(2θ) = 2sin(θ)cos(θ)

Cosine

cos(2θ) = cos²(θ) - sin²(θ)

= 2cos²(θ) - 1

= 1 - 2sin²(θ)

Tangent

tan(2θ) = 2tan(θ)/(1-tan²(θ))

Common Double Angles

sin(60°)√3/2 ≈ 0.866
cos(60°)1/2 = 0.5
sin(90°)1
cos(90°)0
sin(120°)√3/2 ≈ 0.866
cos(120°)-1/2 = -0.5

Tips & Notes

Double angle identities are derived from compound angle formulas

Multiple forms exist for cos(2θ) - choose the most convenient

tan(2θ) is undefined when tan²(θ) = 1

These identities are useful for integration and equation solving

Understanding Double Angle Identities

What are Double Angle Identities?

Double angle identities are trigonometric equations that express the trigonometric functions of twice an angle (2θ) in terms of the trigonometric functions of the original angle (θ). They are special cases of the compound angle formulas.

Applications

  • Simplifying trigonometric expressions
  • Solving trigonometric equations
  • Integration and differentiation in calculus
  • Physics problems involving oscillations

Derivation from Compound Angles

Starting with sin(α + β) = sin(α)cos(β) + cos(α)sin(β)

Let α = β = θ:

sin(θ + θ) = sin(θ)cos(θ) + cos(θ)sin(θ)

sin(2θ) = 2sin(θ)cos(θ)

Key Properties

  • Periodicity: These identities maintain the periodicity of trig functions
  • Symmetry: sin(2θ) is odd, cos(2θ) is even
  • Range: Results follow standard trig function ranges