Home work help: proving a trigonometric identity

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around proving a trigonometric identity involving the expression \(\frac{1}{1+\cos(\theta)}\) and its equivalence to \(\csc^2(\theta) - \csc(\theta)\cot(\theta)\). The scope includes mathematical reasoning and homework-related assistance.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related, Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the identity to be proven and asks for help.
  • Another participant questions whether the original poster has made any attempts to solve the problem themselves and suggests converting everything to sine and cosine for simplification.
  • A subsequent post provides a detailed step-by-step transformation of the right-hand side (RHS) of the identity, showing how it simplifies to the left-hand side (LHS).
  • Another participant reiterates the transformation process, confirming the equivalence of both sides of the identity.
  • A later reply expresses gratitude for the initial suggestion, indicating that it was sufficient to solve the problem.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the steps taken to prove the identity, but there is no explicit consensus on the original poster's approach or whether they attempted the problem themselves.

Contextual Notes

Some steps in the mathematical reasoning may depend on assumptions about the definitions of trigonometric functions and identities, which are not explicitly stated in the discussion.

816318
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___________ =csc2\theta-csc\thetacot\theta
1+cos\theta
 
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Re: home work help

Are you asking how to prove the identity \frac{1}{1+ cos(\theta)}= csc^2(\theta)- csc(\theta)cot(\theta)?
Also you labeled this "home work" help. Did you make any attempt at this yourself or do you just want someone to do your home work for you?

My first reaction for a problem like this is always to change every thing to sine and cosine:
\frac{1}{1+ cos(\theta)}= \frac{1}{sin^2(\theta)}- \frac{1}{sin(\theta)}\frac{cos(\theta)}{sin(\theta)}
 
816318 said:
\frac{1}{1 + \cos\theta} \;=\; \csc^2\theta-\csc\theta\cot\theta []/size]

RHS \;\;=\;\;\frac{1}{\sin^2\theta} - \frac{1}{\sin\theta}\frac{\cos\theta}{\sin\theta} \;\;=\;\;\frac{1-\cos\theta}{\sin^2\theta} \;\;=\;\;\frac{1-\cos\theta}{1-\cos^2\theta}

. . . . . =\;\;\frac{1-\cos\theta}{(1-\cos\theta)(1+\cos\theta)} \;\;=\;\;\frac{1}{1+\cos\theta} \;\;=\;\; LHS
 
$$\frac{1}{1+\cos(\theta)}\cdot\frac{1-\cos(\theta)}{1-\cos(\theta)}=\frac{1-\cos(\theta)}{\sin^2(\theta)}=\csc^2(\theta)-\csc(\theta)\cot(\theta)$$
 
Re: home work help

HallsofIvy said:
Are you asking how to prove the identity \frac{1}{1+ cos(\theta)}= csc^2(\theta)- csc(\theta)cot(\theta)?
Also you labeled this "home work" help. Did you make any attempt at this yourself or do you just want someone to do your home work for you?

My first reaction for a problem like this is always to change every thing to sine and cosine:
\frac{1}{1+ cos(\theta)}= \frac{1}{sin^2(\theta)}- \frac{1}{sin(\theta)}\frac{cos(\theta)}{sin(\theta)}

Thanks buddy, the first step was all that was needed to solve the rest!
 

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