How to Prove Complex Trigonometric Identity?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving a complex trigonometric identity involving tangent, sine, and cosine functions. Participants are attempting to clarify the expression and its components while exploring potential errors in the problem statement.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are examining the structure of the identity, questioning the placement of parentheses, and suggesting substitutions such as setting X to specific values. Some are attempting to simplify the expressions or verify the correctness of the problem as presented.

Discussion Status

The conversation includes various interpretations of the problem, with some participants expressing doubt about the accuracy of the original statement. There is an ongoing exploration of whether the task is to prove an identity or to solve an equation, indicating a lack of consensus on the problem's intent.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of confusion regarding the transcription of the problem from the source material, with participants suggesting that the original poster may have miscopied the identity. Additionally, some participants note discrepancies in the results when substituting values into the expressions.

clook
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how can i prove

tan X/sinx+cosx=sin^2 X + sinXcosX/cos X - 2cos^3X

so far I've tried using basic identities to figure it out, but i just end up getting confused.


:confused:
 
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The way you have written it is confusing. Are there any paranthesis missing?
 
assyrian_77 said:
The way you have written it is confusing. Are there any paranthesis missing?
no..

hmm let me write it out another way

how can i prove

tanX
______
sinx+cosx

=

sin^2 X + sinXcosX
________________
cos X - 2cos^3X
 
Try putting x = pi/4 and see what you get.

Carl
 
In other words, there were parenthesis missing...
 
clook said:
no..

hmm let me write it out another way

how can i prove

tanX
______
sinx+cosx

=

sin^2 X + sinXcosX
________________
cos X - 2cos^3X
The problem is wrong. Are you sure you copied this correctly?
I think it should be:
[tex]\frac{\tan x}{\sin x + \cos x} = \frac{\sin ^ 2 x + \sin x \cos x}{\cos x + 2 \sin x \cos ^ 2 x}[/tex]
 
VietDao29 said:
The problem is wrong. Are you sure you copied this correctly?
I think it should be:
[tex]\frac{\tan x}{\sin x + \cos x} = \frac{\sin ^ 2 x + \sin x \cos x}{\cos x + 2 \sin x \cos ^ 2 x}[/tex]
i copied it as it was exactly written in the book.. :confused:
 
clook said:
how can i prove

tan X/sinx+cosx=sin^2 X + sinXcosX/cos X - 2cos^3X

so far I've tried using basic identities to figure it out, but i just end up getting confused.


:confused:
No, you haven't copied this correctly: Put X=0
Left hand side yields 2, whereas right-hand side yields -2.

Read your book again; this time with your eyes open.
 
Try cancelling the common factors and try compreesing the question to its simplest form. You would then probably then get a breakthrough
 
  • #10
arildno said:
No, you haven't copied this correctly: Put X=0
Left hand side yields 2, whereas right-hand side yields -2.

Read your book again; this time with your eyes open.
i am positive i copied it correctly. i would take a picture from the book, but i don't have a camera or scanner right now.
 
  • #11
When you put x = 0 in both sides are equal to zero.

Just rewritting what clook posted in a more organised manor:

[tex]\frac{\tan x}{\sin x + \cos x} = \frac{\sin^2 x + \sin x \cos x}{\cos x - 2\cos^3 x}[/tex]
 
  • #12
Hootenanny said:
When you put x = 0 in both sides are equal to zero.

Just rewritting what clook posted in a more organised manor:

[tex]\frac{\tan x}{\sin x + \cos x} = \frac{\sin^2 x + \sin x \cos x}{\cos x - 2\cos^3 x}[/tex]

This statement is equivalent to saying [tex]sinx=-cosx[/tex], so something is VERY fishy here.

-Dan
 
  • #13
Ok clook, assuming that

[tex]\frac{\tan x}{\sin x + \cos x} = \frac{\sin^2 x + \sin x \cos x}{\cos x - 2\cos^3 x}[/tex]

is what you have in your book. I worked with the RHS and got this:

[tex]\frac{\tan x}{\sin x-\cos x}[/tex]

As you can see, this is different from the LHS in your equation. Something is indeed fishy here.
 
  • #14
clook said:
i am positive i copied it correctly. i would take a picture from the book, but i don't have a camera or scanner right now.
Okay, look at your problem again, does it say something like:
Prove this identity, or does it tell you to solve the equation?
 
  • #15
VietDao29 said:
Okay, look at your problem again, does it say something like:
Prove this identity, or does it tell you to solve the equation?

Yes solve would make a lot more sense (and would be very easy as well) :wink:
 

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