(1 + cot + tan )(sin - cos ) whole upon sin^3 - cosec^3

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The discussion centers around the equation (1 + cot + tan)(sin - cos) / (sin^3 - cosec^3) = sin^2cos^2, which one participant claims cannot be proven true. A counter-example using θ = π/4 demonstrates that the left side equals zero while the right side does not, indicating the equation is not valid for all values of θ. The conversation clarifies the difference between proving an identity and solving an equation, emphasizing that the original problem cannot be proven as an identity due to its inconsistency. Participants agree that while specific values of θ can satisfy the equation, it does not hold universally. The conclusion is that the equation cannot be proven as an identity, but it can be solved for certain values of θ.
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(1 + cot + tan )(sin - cos ) whole upon sin^3 - cosec^3 = sin^2cos^2

prove this . ( assume theta is front of all functions ) , i don't know where to start :/
 
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I spent quite a long time working on that and then realized I had miscopied it!
And I wonder if you haven't miscopied it! Because what you have written cannot be proven- it is not true. If you take \theta= \pi/4 radians or 45 degrees, then sin(\theta)= cos(\theta)= \sqrt{2}/2 so that sin(\theta)- cos(\theta)= 0 and the numerator on the left is 0. We need to check that sin^3(\theta)- cosec^3(\theta)= 2^{3/2}/8- 8/2^{3/2} is not 0. Since it is not the left side is 0. But the right side is sin^2(\theta)cos^2(\theta)= \frac{1}{2}\frac{1}{2}= \frac{1}{4}, NOT 0.

Perhaps you miscopied? While I didn't finish, if the denominator were sin^3- cos^3 rather than sin^3- cosec^3, my counter-example would not work.
 
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no , i rechecked the question , it is correct and can be solved according to the publisher ( i called customer care )
 


sambarbarian said:
no , i rechecked the question , it is correct and can be solved according to the publisher ( i called customer care )

What HallsofIvy is saying is that it can't be proven because it is not true. Whether some so-called customer care said so or not, it doesn't change the fact that mathematically they're not equivalent.

Just a couple of questions, is this what the problem says?

Prove that
\frac{(1+\cot \theta+\tan \theta)(\sin\theta - \cos\theta)}{\sin^3\theta-\csc^3\theta}=\sin^2\theta\cos^2\theta

If it is, then it can't be proven because there exist values of \theta such that the left-hand side does not equal to the right-hand side.

However, if the problem asked to solve rather than to prove, then we have a different question entirely. When the problem asks to solve for \theta what it's essentially asking is to find all the value(s) of \theta such that the left-hand side does equal the right-hand side. For example, \theta=0 satisfies the equality.
 


yes , that is correct , but if it can't be solved , I am sorry, thank you for your time .
 


sambarbarian said:
but if it can't be solved

It can be solved, but not proven to be an identity :wink:

You can solve x^2-2x+1=0 but you cannot prove that x^2-2x+1=0 because that implies that for every value of x, x^2-2x+1=0 which is untrue.

You can prove that \sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1 which means if you solve for \theta you'll find that \theta can be any value to satisfy the condition that \sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1
 


"Prove this" means "prove that this equation is correct for all x". That is not possible because it is not true as I said above. "Solve this equation" means find those particular values of x for which the equation is true. Is that what your problem asks you to do?
 
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