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View Full Version : Verifying trig identities


hines57
Dec 12, 2011, 11:26 PM
1/secx-tanx=secx tanx

LuckyChucky13
Dec 12, 2011, 11:29 PM
Is the 1 divided by the secx alone or is it over secx - tanx together?

Aurora2000
Dec 13, 2011, 03:10 AM
\frac{1}{\sec x-\tan x}=\sec x+\tan x

Multiply both sides by \sec x-\tan x and this reads

1= \sec^2 x-\tan^2 x

which is solved by direct computation

\sec^2 x-\tan^2 x = \frac{1}{\cos^2x}-\frac{\sin^2x}{\cos^2x}=\frac{1-\sin^2x}{\cos^2x}=1

hines57
Dec 13, 2011, 09:39 AM
The is over secx-tanx together because the is the common denominator