10/11/13

Cosine, Sine and Tangent of Multiple Angles (Recursive Formula)

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Trigonometry Cosine, Sine and Tangent of Multiple Angles (Chebyshev's Method)
Whilst De Moivre's Theorem for Multiple Angles enables us to compute a sine or cosine of a multiple angle directly, for the cosine we need to convert powers of sine to cosines (and similarly for the sine). However, Chebyshev's Method gives the formula in the required form for the cosine, and, for sines, requires the conversion of cosine squared to sines only (as opposed to converting higher powers using DeMoivre). However, there is an algorithm which does this more directly. Computing the tangents can become complicated, as n increases, so the method for tangents is particularly valueable. I refer to the method as Chebyshev's Method, because Pafnuty Chebyshev (Tchebysheff) (1821-1894), a Russian Mathematician, certainly knew this formula (and for any later reference, it is better to give it some name!). This is a recursive method. See also: De Moivre's Theorem Chebyshev's Method Multiple Angles Cosines Multiple Angles Sines Multiple Angles Tangents De Moivre's Theorem Extended Trigonometry Contents

Page Contents
1. Chebyshev Method 2. Examples a. Sine b. Cosine c. Tangent 3. Proof
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Cosine, Sine and Tangent of Multiple Angles (Recursive Formula)

a. Cosine b. Sine c. Tangent

Chebyshev Method
We compute the cosine for nx from the cosines of (n-1) and (n-2) as follows: [1.1] Similarly we compute the sine of nx from the sines of (n-1)x and (n-2)x [1.2] For the tangent, we have: [1.3] where H/K=tan (n-1)x

Examples
Cosine
Starting from cos(1x)=cos x, and cos2x=2cos2x-1, using formula 1.1, we can compute cos 3x=2cos x(2cos2x1)cos x =4cos3x2cos xcos x =4cos3x3cos x

Sine
Starting from sin(1x)=sin x, and sin2x=2sin xcos x, using formula 1.2, we can compute sin 3x=2cos x(2sin xcos x)sin x =4cos2xsin xsin x =4(1sin2x)sin xsin x =3sin x4sin3x
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Cosine, Sine and Tangent of Multiple Angles (Recursive Formula)

Tangent
If we wish to find tan2x; that is the multiple angle formula for the tangent when n=2, and we know tan (n-1)x=tan x. Therefore n=2, H=tan x, and K=1, using formula 1.3, reproduced below: [1.3] And substituting our values, we find: tan 2x=(tan x+tan x1)/(1-tan xtan x) =2tan x/(1-tan2x) If we continue, with n=3, H=2tan x, K=1tan2x, using the formula we have: tan 3x=(2tan x+tan x(1tan2x))/(1tan2x(2tan x)tan x) =(3tan xtan3x)/(13tan2x) This formula uses the previous term only (as apposed to the previous two terms for the sine and cosine formulae).

Proof
That we have chosen to claim to prove the formula for all integers, n, neither implies nor does not imply the truth of the equations for rational, real or complex numbers.

Cosine
We wish to prove that: [1.1, repeated] for all integers, n. To do this we use the compound angle formula to show that the right-hand side of Equation 1.1 is actually cos(nx). Expanding the right-hand side, using the compound angle formula for sine and cosine: cos nx=[2cos(nx)cos (x) + 2sin(nx)sin x]cos (x)[cos(nx)cos2x+sin(nx)sin2x] Writing cos2x as 2cos2x1, and sin2x as 2sin xcosx, and multiplying out some brackets: =2cos(nx)cos2(x)+ 2sin(nx)sin xcos (x)cos(nx)(2cos2x1)sin(nx)2sinxcosx
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Cosine, Sine and Tangent of Multiple Angles (Recursive Formula)

Multiplying out further brackets =2cos(nx)cos2(x)+ 2sin(nx)sin xcos (x)2cos(nx)cos2x+cos(nx)2sin(nx)sinxcosx Grouping similar terms, most of which cancel: =cos(nx)

Sine
We wish to prove that: [1.2, repeated] for all integers n. Expanding each part of the right-hand side of Equation 1.2, using the compound angle formula for sine and cosine: First we note that 2cos(x)sin(n1)x =2cos(x)[sin(nx)cos(x)sin(x)cos(nx)] (by expanding sin(n1)x ) =2sin(nx)cos2(x)2sin(x)cos(x)cos(nx) [i] Second, we expand sin(n-2)x = [sin(nx)cos(2x) sin(2x)cos(nx)] Substituting sin(2x)=2sin(x)cos(x), and cos(2x)=2cos2(x)1, we find: = [2sin(nx)cos2(x) sin(nx) 2sin(x)cos(x)cos(nx)] [ii] The right-hand-side of [1.2] is the sum of [i] and [ii], which is sin(nx), because the other terms cancel. Therefore the left-hand side of Equation 1.2, sin(nx), equals the right-hand side so: [1.2, repeated]

Tangent
We note from the compound angle formula for the tangent:

[3.1] because tan nx=tan[(n-1)x+x]:

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Cosine, Sine and Tangent of Multiple Angles (Recursive Formula)

[3.2] If we let: [3.3] where H is the dividend (top bit) and K is the divisor (bottom bit) of the expression for the tangent. Substituting 3.3 in 3.1, we get:

[3.4] And multiplying top and bottom by K becomes our recursive formula:

The tangent formula produces the current formula using only the previous formula, unlike sine and cosine which require two previous formula.

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