# Help with Trigonometric Simplifying

1. Dec 13, 2005

### chrisdapos

Hi, i need help with simplifying this problem. I think it is an identity, but it looks very complex, and I wanted some other peoples thoughts/opinions. Well here goes....
cos^2((pi/4)-(x-2)) - sin^2((pi/4)-(x-2))
I reduced it using the identity cos2x=cos^2x - sin^2x. I came out with cos2((pi/4)-(x/2)), is that it? Am I looking too far into this, or is there more? Thank you so much in advance!!!!

2. Dec 13, 2005

### Staff: Mentor

Don't forget your difference of angles identities. Those should allow you to split up the (pi/4) and the (x/2) terms. Then you know the sin and cos of pi/4 so those are just numbers. Then you should only be left with the (x/2) terms which you may be able to further simplify with the half angle identites.

-Dale

Last edited: Dec 13, 2005
3. Dec 13, 2005

### chrisdapos

thank you, my question would be do the addition identities apply to terms if they are squared? Do I use the same idetity regardless of wheter sin and cos are squared?

4. Dec 13, 2005

### Staff: Mentor

Didn't you already get rid of the squares with the cos(2x) identity?

But, in any case, you can use the addition identities and then square the results as appropriate if you want.

-Dale

Last edited: Dec 13, 2005
5. Dec 13, 2005

### chrisdapos

I reduced it down to root 2 cos^2x+root2sinxcosx....do you know if this is right or not?

6. Dec 13, 2005

### chrisdapos

discard the previous responce....i reduced it to sinx....any posibility that this is right? It seems right. Thank you

7. Dec 13, 2005

### Staff: Mentor

Mathematica only simplified it to
$$\sin (2\,\left( -2 + x \right) )$$

Sometimes Mathematica does not actually get the simplest result. You should check by plugging in a few test values and see if your answer matches the original.

-Dale