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    shant112's Avatar
    shant112 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Nov 8, 2006, 03:42 PM
    trig
    can someone help me solve this problem please

    1/1-sinx + 1/1+sinx=2sec^2x
    kyop's Avatar
    kyop Posts: 48, Reputation: 11
    Junior Member
     
    #2

    Nov 16, 2006, 10:58 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by shant112
    can someone help me solve this problem please

    1/1-sinx + 1/1+sinx=2sec^2x
    I like this problem!

    1/(1-sinx) + 1/(1+sinx) = 2sec^2(x) can be rewritten as:

    1/(1-sinx) + 1/(1+sinx) = 2/cos^2(x) since 1/cos = sec

    Now, multiply the whole equation by (1-sinx)(1+sinx)

    Significant cross-cancelling will give you:

    (1+sinx) + (1-sinx) = 2(1-sinx)(1+sinx)/cos^2(x)

    Notice that the sinx and -sinx cancel out, leaving you:

    1 + 1 = 2(1-sinx)(1+sinx)/cos^2(x)

    Now, if you FOIL out the binomials, you get 2(1-sin^2x)/cos^2x

    (1-sin^2x) actually equals cos^2x so you end up with:

    2 cos^2x /cos^2x which just equals 2.

    So, when all is said and done, you have 1+1 = 2 which is always true.

    Now, you have a couple of times when x CANNOT equal something. For instance, x cannot equal 90 degrees (pi/2 radians) because sinx would equal -1, causing 1/0 in our original equation. Same with x = 270 (3pi/2 radians).

    So, your solution is all reals except 90 and 270.
    kyop's Avatar
    kyop Posts: 48, Reputation: 11
    Junior Member
     
    #3

    Nov 19, 2006, 09:58 PM
    Good point with the coterminal points. I just generally work in the 0 to 2pi range unless otherwise stated.

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