Half Angle Formula for Tangent/Corollary 1

Theorem

 * $\tan \dfrac \theta 2 = \dfrac {\sin \theta} {1 + \cos \theta}$

where $\tan$ denotes tangent, $\sin$ denotes sine and $\cos$ denotes cosine.

Where $\theta = \paren {2 k + 1} \pi$, $\tan \dfrac \theta 2$ is undefined.

Proof
Since $\cos \theta \ge -1$, it follows that $\cos \theta + 1 \ge 0$.

When $\cos \theta = -1$ it follows that $1 + \cos \theta = 0$.

This happens when $\theta = \paren {2 k + 1} \pi$, for $k \in \Z$.

At these points, $\sin \theta = 0$ as well.

Then:

So it follows that at $\theta = \paren {2 k + 1} \pi$, $\dfrac {\sin \theta} {1 + \cos \theta}$ is undefined.

At all other values of $\theta$, $\cos \theta + 1 > 0$.

Therefore the sign of $\dfrac {\sin \theta} {1 + \cos \theta}$ is equal to the sign of $\sin \theta$.

We recall:


 * In quadrant $\text I$ and quadrant $\text {II}$: $\sin \theta > 0$


 * In quadrant $\text {III}$ and quadrant $\text {IV}$: $\sin \theta < 0$

Thus it follows that the same applies to $\dfrac {\sin \theta} {1 + \cos \theta}$.

Let $\dfrac \theta 2$ be in quadrant I or quadrant $\text {III}$.

Then from Bisection of Angle in Cartesian Plane: Corollary, $\theta$ is in quadrant $\text I$ or quadrant $\text {II}$.

Therefore $\dfrac {\sin \theta} {1 + \cos \theta}$ is positive.

Let $\dfrac \theta 2$ be in quadrant $\text {II}$ or quadrant $\text {IV}$.

Then from Bisection of Angle in Cartesian Plane: Corollary, $\theta$ is in quadrant $\text {III}$ or quadrant $\text {IV}$.

Therefore $\dfrac {\sin \theta} {1 + \cos \theta}$ is negative.

Also see

 * Half Angle Formula for Sine
 * Half Angle Formula for Cosine