In the Angle Addition Identities post it was shown that
$ \displaystyle \sin(x+y) = \sin x \cos y + \sin y \cos x $
and
$ \displaystyle \cos(x+y) = \cos x \cos y – \sin x \sin y $.
These identities are valid if $\sin \theta \equiv \frac{opp}{hyp}$ and $\cos \theta \equiv \frac{adj}{hyp}$, which implies that $\theta \in [0,\frac{\pi}{2})$ in order for $\theta$ to be an acute angle of a right triangle. These constraints are imposed because the two Angle Addition Identities were derived using these constraints.
The next step, following the steps in reference [1], is setting $y$ equal to $x$. Doing this yields
$ \displaystyle \sin(2x) = \sin x \cos x + \sin x \cos x = 2 \sin x \cos x$.
Hence
$ \boxed{ \displaystyle \sin(2x) = 2 \sin x \cos x } $.
Similarly, following the steps in reference [1], substituting $x$ for $y$ in
$ \displaystyle \cos(x+y) = \cos x \cos y – \sin x \sin y $
yields
$ \displaystyle \cos(2x) = \cos x \cos x – \sin x \sin x = \cos ^2 x – \sin ^2 x $.
Hence
$ \boxed{ \displaystyle \cos(2x) = \cos ^2 x – \sin ^2 x } $.
Using this Identity, the previous equation becomes
$ \displaystyle \cos(2x) = (1 – \sin^2 x) – \sin^2 x = 1 – 2 \sin^2 x$.
Hence
$ \boxed{ \displaystyle \cos(2x) = 1 – 2 \sin^2 x }$.
Solving for $\sin x$ and taking the positive root to ensure that $\sin x$, a ratio of lengths, is not negative yields
$ \displaystyle \sin x = \sqrt{ \frac{1-\cos(2x)}{2} } $.
Finally, define $x \equiv \frac{\alpha}{2}$ and substitute to get the half-angle identity [2],
$ \displaystyle \boxed{ \sin \frac{\alpha}{2} = \sqrt{ \frac{1-\cos \alpha }{2}} }$.
Therefore,
$ \displaystyle 2\sin^2 \frac{\alpha}{2} = 1-\cos \alpha $.
References
[1] https://www.intmath.com/analytic-trigonometry/3-double-angle-formulas.php [2] https://www.intmath.com/analytic-trigonometry/4-half-angle-formulas.php
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