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-   -   Again verifying trig identities (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=289727)

  • Dec 8, 2008, 09:59 AM
    jake beggs
    again verifying trig identities
    I solved the first one I posted but the second one still gets me I can get to

    2sin(X)cos(X)-(sin(X))/(cos(X))=(sin(X))/(cos(X))cos(2X)

    but I don't know which identity to use for cos(2X) in the left side.

    the original identity is sin(2X)-tan(X)=tan(X)cos(2X)
  • Dec 8, 2008, 10:58 AM
    ebaines

    First, you shouldn't start a new thread when asking a follow-up question. Just hit "answer this question" to keep the conversation going.

    You have 3 options to choose from when substituting for cos(2x):

    1. cos (2x) = cos^2(x) - sin^2(x). This is the basic version which you should memorize.

    2. Use the fact that sin^2(x) + cos^2(x) = 1 to either replace the sin^2(x) term with 1 - cos^2(x), or the cos^2(x) term with 1 - sin^2(x). So you end up with either:
    2a: cos(2x) = 1 - 2sin^2(x), or
    2b: cos(2x) = 2cos^2(x) -1

    So now you have three versions of cos(2x). One of these makes for a nice simple substitution that immediately makes the right hand side look like the left and side.
  • Dec 8, 2008, 02:36 PM
    jake beggs
    I've tried to plug in all three and I still can't get it to match up.
  • Dec 8, 2008, 02:42 PM
    ebaines

    OK, here goes...

    First, the left and side:
    sin(2x)-tan(x) = 2sin(x)cos(x) - sin(x)/cos(x)

    Now the right hand side:
    tan(x)cos(2x) = sin(x)/cos(x) [2cos^2(x)-1]
    = 2 sin(x)cos(x) - sin(x)/cos(x)
    which is the same as the left hand side.
  • Dec 8, 2008, 02:48 PM
    Justwantfair

    I thought we didn't do homework problems on this forum.
  • Dec 8, 2008, 03:00 PM
    jake beggs
    Oh OK thanks I'm really not that good at math.

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