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View Full Version : Solving trig identity


mathstudent1
Mar 19, 2008, 06:27 AM
How do I solve this trig identity? I keep coming up blank!

sin (theta) cos (theta)
________ __ _________ = 0

-cos(theta) sin(theta)



I know I need to find the common denominator and end up with

1
___________________________ = 0

-cos(theta) sin(theta)



Now what??

Please help??

galactus
Mar 19, 2008, 09:16 AM
Is this what you mean?:

\frac{sin({\theta})}{-cos({\theta})}-\frac{cos({\theta})}{sin({\theta})}

If so, you are correct. It simplifies to:

\frac{-1}{sin({\theta})cos({\theta})}=\frac{-2}{sin(2{\theta})}


In that event, there are no values of theta which result in 0 because of the denominator.