Can You Solve This Trigonometric Identity?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving a trigonometric identity involving cosine and sine functions. The original poster expresses difficulty with the problem, particularly with squared terms and the overall approach to the identity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to expand both sides of the identity but struggles with the algebraic manipulation and verifying the correctness of their expressions. Some participants suggest revisiting the expansion of squared terms and applying fundamental trigonometric identities.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, providing hints and guidance without revealing complete solutions. There is a collaborative effort to clarify the steps needed to expand the expressions correctly, and some participants express newfound understanding as they piece together the hints provided.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions missing important class days, which may contribute to their confusion regarding the topic. There is an emphasis on using trigonometric identities and algebraic expansion to approach the problem.

stuck
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Prove the following identities:

(cos A = cos B)^2 + (sin A + sin B)^2 = 2[1+cos(A-B)]



I'm really a mess at this stuff. I missed a few important days and fell behind, so I don't reeeally know what to do when things start getting squared and whatnot., but I tried! :bugeye:

Left Side
(cos A + Cos B)^2 + (sin A + sin B)^2
(cos(^2)A+cos(^2)B = Sin(^2)A+sin(^2)B
(cos (^2)A+cos(^2)B+ (1+-cos(^2)A + (1+-cos(^2)B)
2


Right Side
2+2cos(A-B)
2(cosAcosB+sinAsinB) +2

But that's as far as I can get. I can't find a way to make both sides equal, and I'm not even sure if my left side is correct...

Please help me if you can! :shy:
 
Last edited:
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First, do you know what [tex](a+b)^2=...??[/tex] you have not expanded well. Give it another shot.

[tex](cosA+cosB)^2=...?...[/tex]

[tex](sinA+sinB)^2=...?[/tex]

After you expand this, remember also that:

[tex]cos^2A+sin^2A=1, and, sin^2B+cos^2B=1[/tex]

And somewhere in between you will end up with sth like this

[tex]2+ 2cosBcosA+2sinAsinB[/tex] now the answer should be obvious, right?
 
Last edited:
Urk, I thought that because in my third step on the left I had (cos^2A) and (-cos ^2A), that they would cancel...?
 
[tex](sinA+sinB)^2=sin^2A+2sinAsinB+sin^2B...?[/tex]

also

[tex](cosA+cosB)^2=cos^2A+2cosAcosB+cos^2B[/tex]


Can you go from here now?

Just use the hints that i gave you on my post #2

also, another hint, altough you should have figured this out by yourself

[tex]cos(A-B)=cosAcosB+sinAsinB[/tex]
 
I think I can I didnt know that before, I will try to work it out now!
 
stuck said:
I think I can I didnt know that before, I will try to work it out now!

I wrote in there everything you need to do that problem, you only need to put all the hints together.
 
I got it, Thank you!
 
stuck said:
I got it, Thank you!

You're welcome. THis is what PF is for!
 

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