Trouble Verifying Identity: Any Advice Welcome

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around verifying the trigonometric identity (COS A) / (1-SIN A) = SEC A + TAN A. Participants explore various algebraic manipulations and transformations to establish the validity of the identity, along with related trigonometric concepts.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about verifying the identity and notes that the right-hand side (RHS) simplifies to (1 + SIN A)/COS A, which does not seem to equal the left-hand side (LHS).
  • Another participant suggests cross-multiplying to show that cos^2 A = (1 + sin A)(1 - sin A), leading to sin^2 A + cos^2 A = 1.
  • A different participant provides a transformation of the RHS to show it equals (cos A + sin A*cos A)/(cos A)^2.
  • One participant questions whether sin^2 A + cos^2 A = 1 verifies the identity, while another confirms that it is a fundamental trigonometric identity.
  • Another participant attempts to simplify the LHS by dividing by cos A and manipulating the expression to show it equals the RHS.
  • A later reply reiterates the original confusion and asks if the manipulations simply revert back to the RHS already established.
  • One participant provides a detailed algebraic manipulation to show the equivalence of the two sides, leading to a conclusion that the LHS can be expressed in terms of the RHS.
  • Another participant introduces a new question regarding finding solutions to a different trigonometric equation, which is not directly related to the identity verification discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and confusion regarding the identity verification, with no clear consensus on the resolution of the initial question. Some participants agree on the validity of certain transformations, while others remain uncertain about the implications of those transformations.

Contextual Notes

Some participants' manipulations depend on specific algebraic steps that may not be universally accepted or understood, and the discussion includes unresolved questions about the correctness of certain transformations.

powp
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Hello All

I am having problems Verifying this identity

(COS A) / (1-SIN A) = SEC A + TAN A

I can get the RHS = (1 + SIN A)/COS A

But this does not equal the LHS

Any advice is welcome.

THanks
 
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yes, you are right, now cross-multiply:

[tex]cos^2 a = (1 + sin a) (1 - sin a)[/tex]
[tex]cos^2 a = 1 - sin^2 a[/tex]
[tex]sin^2 a + cos^2 a = 1[/tex]
 
sec A + tan A = (1/cosA) + sinA/cosA = (cosA + sinA*cosA)/(cosA)^2 =

cosA(1 + sinA)/(1-sin^2A) = cos A / (1 + sinA) :cool:
 
does [tex]sin^2 a + cos^2 a = 1[/tex] verify the idenity?
 
Divide the LHS top and bottom by cos A:

[tex]\frac{\cos A}{1-\sin A} = \frac{1}{\sec A - \tan A}[/tex]
[tex]=\frac{1}{(\sec A - \tan A)}\frac{(\sec A + \tan A)}{(\sec A + \tan A)}[/tex]
[tex]=\frac{\sec A + \tan A}{\sec^2 A - \tan^2 A}[/tex]

But

[tex]\sec^2 A - \tan^2 A = \frac{1 - \sin^2 A}{\cos^2 A} = 1[/tex]

So, the result follows.
 
powp said:
Hello All

I am having problems Verifying this identity

(COS A) / (1-SIN A) = SEC A + TAN A

I can get the RHS = (1 + SIN A)/COS A

But this does not equal the LHS

Any advice is welcome.

THanks

Yes, it does: (1+ sin A)/cos A= 1/cos A+ sin A/cos A= sec A+ tan A.
 
Thanks All Still kind of confused.

HallsofIvy: doesn't that just change back the RHS that I did??
 
powp:

Does this help?

[tex]\frac{1 + \sin A}{\cos A} = \frac{(1 + \sin A)(1 - \sin A)}{\cos A(1 - \sin A)}[/tex]

[tex]=\frac{1 - \sin^2 A}{\cos A (1 - \sin A)}[/tex]

[tex]= \frac{\cos^2 A}{\cos A (1 - \sin A)}[/tex]

[tex]= \frac{\cos A}{1- \sin A}[/tex]
 
powp said:
does [tex]sin^2 a + cos^2 a = 1[/tex] verify the idenity?

Yes that is perhaps the most fundamental of all trig identities. It's actually just Pythagoras Thm for a RHT with unit length hypotemus.
 
  • #10
Is this correct??

Hello All

I need to find all solutions to the following did i do it correct?

Sin 2x = 2Tan 2x

2Sinx Cosx = 2(2Tanx / 1-Tan^2x)

Sinx Cosx = (2(Sinx / Cosx)/(cos^2x-Sin^2x / Cos^2x))

Sinx Cosx = 2(Sinx / Cosx) X (Cos^2x / cos^2x-Sin^2x)

Cosx = 2 (Cosx / Cos^2x - Sin^2x)

1 = (2 / Cos^2x - Sin^2x)

Cos^2x - Sin^2x = 2

1 - Sinx^2 - Sin^2x = 2

2Sin^2x = -1
Sin^2x = -1/2

Sinx = -1/SQROOT(2)



Is this correct??
 

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