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-   -   Prove the identity solver (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=704308)

  • Sep 23, 2012, 05:18 PM
    jaelin96
    prove the identity solver
    1-tan(x)/1+tan(x) = 1-sin2x/cos2x
  • Sep 23, 2012, 10:01 PM
    Unknown008
    Show your attempt please.
  • Sep 26, 2012, 06:35 PM
    RPVega
    The way you have stated this problem, I do not think it is possible to prove it
    as a valid trigonometric identity. Did you mean the following:

    {1-tan(x)} {1+tan(x)} = 1 - {(sin(x))^2 / (cos(x))^2}

    The above equation is read, "The quantity one minus tangent x, times the
    quantity one plus tangent x, equals one minus the ratio sine x, divided by
    cosine x, the ratio raised to the 2nd power." Is that what you meant?

    If so, the solution is as follows:

    Recall that sin(x) / cos(x) = tan(x), therefore, the right side of the above
    equation becomes:

    1 - {(sin(x))^2 / (cos(x))^2} = 1 - {tan(x)}^2

    The right side of the above equation is "the difference of two squares."
    Recall that the difference of two squares can be factored as follows:

    (a^2 - b^2) = (a-b)(a+b)

    In our case, a = 1, and b = tan(x); therefore,

    1 - {tan(x)}^2 = 1^2 - {tan(x)}^2 = (1 - tan(x)) (1 + tan(x)) Q.E.D.

    "Q.E.D." means "Quod Erat Demonstrandum," Latin for "which was to be
    demonstrated." The initials are used often in math textbooks.

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