Question

Find sin x/2, cos x/2, and tan x/2, if cos x = -12/13, 180 degrees is less than x which is less than 270 degrees

Answer 1

Cos x = -12/13
sin x = -sqrt(13^2 - 12^2) / 13 = -5/13
tan x = 5/12

tan x/2 = (1 - cos x) / sin x = 1 - (-12/13) / -5/13 = 25/13 * -13/5 = -5

2sin^2 x/2 = 1 - cos x = 1 - (-12/13) = 25/13
sin^2 x/2 = 25/13 / 2 = 25/26
sin x/2 = 5/√26

sin x/2 / cos x/2 = tan x/2
cos x/2 = sin x/2 / tan x/2 = 5/√26 / -5 = -1/√26

sin x/2 = 5/√26
cos x/2 = -1/√26
tan x/2 = -5