Help Solving Two Proofs - Tan X + Cot X = (Sec X)(Csc X)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around two mathematical proofs involving trigonometric identities: the first proof is about the equation tan x + cot x = (sec x)(csc x), and the second proof concerns the equation tan^2 x - sin^2 x = (tan^2 x)(sin^2 x). Participants are exploring various approaches to simplify and prove these identities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants suggest rewriting expressions in terms of sine and cosine to facilitate simplification. There are attempts to manipulate the left-hand side of the equations, with some participants questioning the validity of certain steps, such as "crossing out" terms. Others express confusion about the implications of their manipulations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing guidance and alternative perspectives on the proofs. Some have offered insights into simplifying the expressions, while others are questioning the correctness of specific steps taken in the proofs. There is no explicit consensus on the solutions yet, but several productive lines of reasoning are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework assignments, which may limit the information available or the methods they can use. There are indications of confusion regarding mathematical terminology and the implications of certain algebraic manipulations.

chase222
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I need help solving 2 proofs:

tan x + cot x = (sec x)(csc x)

I changed the left side to:

tan x + 1/tan x = (sec x)(csc x)

then crossed out the tan:

1 = (sec x)(csc x), but I got stuck there.

The next one I had trouble with was:

tan^2 x - sin^2 x = (tan^2 x)(sin^2 x)

I saw the left side being a^2 - b^2, so I factored it into:

(tan x + sin x)(tan x - sin x) = (tan^2 x)(sin^2 x)

I then changed the tan into sin/cos:

((sin x/cos x) + sin x)) ((sin x/cos x) - sin x)) , but got stuck there.

Can you help me solve these proofs?
 
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Try to write everything in terms of sine & cosine...You'll get them easily.

Daniel.
 
So for the second one:

tan^2 x - sin^2 x = (tan^2 x)(sin^2 x)

(sin^2 x/cos^2 x) - sin^2 X = (sin^2 x/cos^2 x)(sin^2x)

So on both sides so the sin^2 x cancel, leaving it like:

cos^2 x = cos^2 x?

And for the first one:

tan x + cot x = (sec x)(csc x)

I changed it to:

sin x/cos x + 1/(sin x/cos x) = (1/cos x)(1/sin x)

What would I do from here?
 
Bring it to the same denominator (in the LHS) and after simplifying the denominators,u'll find

[tex]\sin^{2}x+\cos^{2}x =1[/tex]



Daniel.
 
chase222 said:
I changed the left side to:

tan x + 1/tan x = (sec x)(csc x)

then crossed out the tan:

1 = (sec x)(csc x), but I got stuck there.

"crossed out the tan" is not a mathematics term! I'm serious- think about exactly what you are doing there. tan x+ 1/tan x is NOT equal to 1 for all x!

chase222 said:
(sin^2 x/cos^2 x) - sin^2 X = (sin^2 x/cos^2 x)(sin^2x)

So on both sides so the sin^2 x cancel, leaving it like:

cos^2 x = cos^2 x?

Okay, sin^2 x/cos^2 x) - sin^2 x= (sin^2 x)((1/cos^2x) - 1) so canceling sin^2 x leaves (1/cos^2 x)- 1 = sin^2 x/cos^2 x

That is NOT "cos^2 x= cos^2 x" but if you multiply both sides by cos^2 x you get something almost as easy.
 

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