Solving a Trigonometry Proof: 1+ cos Ө =?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a trigonometric proof involving the identity 1 + cos(θ) = csc(θ) + cot(θ). Participants are exploring the validity of this identity and the steps involved in proving it.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to simplify the right side of the equation and questions whether their simplification is correct. Other participants discuss the definitions of csc and cot, and some express confusion about the identity itself. There are also inquiries about the correctness of the identity as stated in the textbook.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively questioning the identity and examining their calculations. Some have provided numerical evaluations to compare both sides of the equation, suggesting that there may be a misprint in the textbook. The conversation indicates a lack of consensus on the validity of the identity.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of potential errors in the textbook, as well as repeated checks of the original poster's work, indicating uncertainty about the correctness of the identity being discussed.

Alethia
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Yes it is me again. :D Now with a trig problem XD

I was doing some problems on my homework in math, Trigonometry and I had problems proving this proof:

1+ cos Ө = csc Ө + cot Ө

I've worked it out until I simplified the right side to:

sin Ө
-----
1+ cos Ө

And then I realized that was the half identity of tangent. I can;t make the connnection further to make the proof true. Please help! Have I simplified it wrong?

edit: the Ө is supposed to represent theta... but it keeps showing up like a square.. but you know what I mean. :D
 
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isnt csc = 1/sin and cot = cos/sin?

if that is so than the RS:
1/sin + cos/sin
(1+cos)/sin

(forgive me for not putting in thetas)
 
Yeah that is what I got, but it's not eqaul to the left side, which is what I am supposed to do.
 
Do you believe the identity is correct?
 
See that's why I am confused. I've checked my work about a million times (maybe 5 or so times :D) and I keep coming up with the same solution. I checked the answer in the book and it says that the proof is true... so either I'm doing something wrong or it's an error in the book. :1
 
There must be a misprint, I did a quick calculation to show that they are equal at some point but certianly not in general
x.....1+cos(x)...csc(x)+cot(x)
0.1...1.995004165...19.98333055
0.2...1.980066578...9.966644423
0.3...1.955336489...6.616591506
0.4...1.921060994...4.933154876
0.5...1.877582562...3.916317365
0.6...1.825335615...3.232728144
0.7...1.764842187...2.739512159
0.8...1.696706709...2.36522242
0.9...1.621609968...2.070157361
1...1.540302306...1.830487722
1.1...1.453596121...1.631041424
1.2...1.362357754...1.461695947
1.3...1.267498829...1.315435692
1.4...1.169967143...1.187241832
1.5...1.070737202...1.073426149
1.6...0.970800478...0.971214601
 
Last edited:

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