MHB Home work help: proving a trigonometric identity

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on proving the trigonometric identity 1/(1 + cos(θ)) = csc²(θ) - csc(θ)cot(θ). A participant emphasizes the importance of converting all terms to sine and cosine for simplification. The proof involves manipulating the right-hand side to show it equals the left-hand side. The initial step of rewriting the equation is highlighted as crucial for solving the problem. Overall, the exchange illustrates effective methods for tackling trigonometric identities.
816318
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
1
___________ =csc2\theta-csc\thetacot\theta
1+cos\theta
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
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!
 
Thread 'Video on imaginary numbers and some queries'
Hi, I was watching the following video. I found some points confusing. Could you please help me to understand the gaps? Thanks, in advance! Question 1: Around 4:22, the video says the following. So for those mathematicians, negative numbers didn't exist. You could subtract, that is find the difference between two positive quantities, but you couldn't have a negative answer or negative coefficients. Mathematicians were so averse to negative numbers that there was no single quadratic...
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In Dirac’s Principles of Quantum Mechanics published in 1930 he introduced a “convenient notation” he referred to as a “delta function” which he treated as a continuum analog to the discrete Kronecker delta. The Kronecker delta is simply the indexed components of the identity operator in matrix algebra Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-exactly-is-diracs-delta-function/ by...
Thread 'Unit Circle Double Angle Derivations'
Here I made a terrible mistake of assuming this to be an equilateral triangle and set 2sinx=1 => x=pi/6. Although this did derive the double angle formulas it also led into a terrible mess trying to find all the combinations of sides. I must have been tired and just assumed 6x=180 and 2sinx=1. By that time, I was so mindset that I nearly scolded a person for even saying 90-x. I wonder if this is a case of biased observation that seeks to dis credit me like Jesus of Nazareth since in reality...

Similar threads

Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
20
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
3K
Back
Top