How do you use half angle formula to find sin 112.5?

1 Answer
May 25, 2015

Use trig identity: 2sin^2 a = 1 - cos 2a

cos 2(112,5) = cos 225 = cos (45 + 180) = -cos 45 = -(sqrt2)/2

2sin^2 112.5 = 1 + (sqrt2)/2 = (2 + sqrt2)/2

sin^2 112.5 = (2 + sqrt2)/4 = 0.85

sin 112.5 = sqrt(2 + sqrt2)/2

The negative answer is rejected because sin 112.5 is positive.

Check with calculator: sin 112.5 = 0.92 OK