How do you use the double angle or half angle formulas to simplify cos22.5?

1 Answer
Oct 23, 2015

#cos(22.5^@) =0.92388#

Explanation:

Since #22.5^@ = 1/2xx45^@# we will want to use the half angle formula for #cos#

#cos(theta/2) = +-sqrt((1+cos(theta))/2)#
#color(white)("XXX")#(we will ignore the negative version since for this example our angle falls in Quadrant I where #cos# is positive)

#cos(22.5^@) = sqrt((1+cos(45^@))/2)#

#color(white)("XXXXXX")=sqrt((1+1/sqrt(2))/2)#

#color(white)("XXXXXX")=sqrt(2+sqrt(2))/2#

(using a calculator)
#color(white)("XXXXXX")~=0.92388#