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  • May 1, 2009, 03:20 PM
    AERII
    Proving Trigonometric Identities
    How do I prove that sin theta*cos theta*tan theta= 1-cos squared theta
  • May 1, 2009, 11:17 PM
    Vi Nguyen

    Hi there, with this question you should remember the trig identity tanθ=sinθ/cosθ and cos squaredθ plus sin squaredθ=1

    so you have: to prove that Left Hand Side=Right hand side

    (LHS) sinθcosθtanθ = 1-cos squaredθ (RHS)

    (remember tanθ=sinθ/cosθ) so sub in for tan
    sinθcosθ(sinθ/cosθ)
    (cosθ cancels and your left with)
    sin squaredθ

    now from the identity cos squaredθ plus sin squaredθ=1, rearranged you'd get sin squaredθ=1-cos squaredθ

    so since you've got sin squaredθ on the LHS and the identity says that this is equal to 1-cos squared, this is proof that the LHS=RHS. Hope this is clear enough, trig gets a little complicated to show when typing. ;p

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