SOLUTION: In a triangle ABC with usual notations, show that 2a∙sinē(C/2)+2c∙sinē(A/2) = a-b+c

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Question 1131207: In a triangle ABC with usual notations, show that
2a∙sinē(C/2)+2c∙sinē(A/2) = a-b+c

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20060) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
2a%2Asin%5E2%28C%2F2%29++%2B2c%2Asin%5E2%28A%2F2%29=a-b%2Bc

First we draw a general triangle ABC with the usual notations,
with altitude h to base b, dividing b into two parts x and y, 
such that x+y = b.



[Note that we can always choose the lettering so that the altitude h
is inside the triangle, so that x+y=b.  We can also similarly prove
the proposition when h is outside the triangle. It will only involve
changing some signs.]

We start with the left side:

2a%2Asin%5E2%28C%2F2%29++%2B2c%2Asin%5E2%28A%2F2%29

Use the half angle formula to substitute for the sines:

sin%28theta%2F2%29=+%22%22+%2B-+sqrt%28%281-cos%28theta%29%29%2F2%29



Squaring square roots takes them both away:

2a%2A%28%281-cos%28C%29%29%2F2%29++%2B2c%2A%28%281-cos%28A%29%29%2F2%29%29

Cancel the 2's

a%2A%281%5E%22%22-cos%28C%29%29++%2Bc%2A%281%5E%22%22-cos%28A%29%29

a-a%2Acos%28C%29++%2Bc-c%2Acos%28A%29%29

Now go back to the triangle up there. From it, we have
matrix%281%2C3%2Ccos%28C%29=y%2Fa%2Cand%2Ccos%28A%29=x%2Fc%29 and substitute
the fractions for the cosines:

a-a%2A%28y%2Fa%29++%2Bc-c%2A%28x%2Fc%29%29

Cancel the a's in the second term and the c's in the last term:

a-y++%2Bc-x

Rearrange the terms:

a-x-y%2Bc

Take " - " sign out of the two middle terms:

a-%28x%2By%29%2Bc

And since from the triangle x+y = b, we have
the right side of what was given:

a-b%2Bc

Edwin