TITLE: How to prove the identity $\frac{1}{\sin(z)} = \cot(z) + \tan(\frac{z}{2})$?
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: $$\frac{1}{\sin(z)} = \cot (z) + \tan (\tfrac{z}{2})$$
I did this: 
First attempt: $$\displaystyle{\frac{1}{\sin (z)} = \frac{\cos (z)}{\sin (z)} + \frac{\sin (\frac{z}{2})}{ \cos (\frac{z}{2})} = \frac{\cos (z) }{\sin (z)} + \frac{2\sin(\frac{z}{4})\cos(\frac{z}{4})}{\cos^{2}(\frac{z}{4})-\sin^{2}(\frac{z}{4})}} = $$
$$\frac{\cos (z)(\cos^{2}(\frac{z}{4})-\sin^{2}(\frac{z}{4}))+2\sin z \sin(\frac{z}{4})\cos(\frac{z}{4})}{\sin (z)(\cos^{2}(\frac{z}{4})-\sin^{2}(\frac{z}{4}))}$$
Stuck.
Second attempt: 
$$\displaystyle{\frac{1}{\sin z} = \left(\frac{1}{2i}(e^{iz}-e^{-iz})\right)^{-1} = 2i\left(\frac{1}{e^{iz}-e^{-iz}}\right)}$$
Stuck.
Does anybody see a way to continue?

REPLY [2 votes]: Start out with
$$
\frac{1-\cos(z)}{\sin(z)}=\frac{2\sin^2(\tfrac{z}{2})}{2\sin(\tfrac{z}{2})\cos(\tfrac{z}{2})}=\tan(\tfrac{z}{2})\tag{1}
$$
and add $\cot(z)$ to both sides:
$$
\frac{1}{\sin(z)}=\cot(z)+\tan(\tfrac{z}{2})\tag{2}
$$