Proving Identity: tan(x)/(sec(x)+1) = (sec(x)-1)/tan(x)

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SUMMARY

The identity $\displaystyle \frac {\tan x} {\sec x + 1} = \frac {\sec x - 1} {\tan x}$ has been successfully demonstrated by multiple forum members, including Prove It and MarkFL. The discussion highlights the correctness of their solutions, showcasing different approaches to proving the identity. The solutions provided are mathematically sound and utilize fundamental trigonometric identities effectively.

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Demonstrate the following identity:

$\displaystyle \frac {\tan x} {\sec x + 1} = \frac {\sec x - 1} {\tan x}$
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Congratulations to the following members for their correct solutions:

1) anemone
2) Prove It
3) soroban
4) MarkFL
5) Sudharaka

Solution (from Prove It):
[math]\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{\tan{(x)}}{\sec{(x)} + 1} &= \frac{\tan{(x)}\left[ \sec{(x)} - 1 \right]}{\left[ \sec{(x)} + 1 \right] \left[ \sec{(x)} - 1 \right] } \\ &= \frac{\tan{(x)}\left[ \sec{(x)} - 1 \right] }{ \sec^2{(x)} - 1 } \\ &= \frac{\tan{(x)}\left[ \sec{(x)} - 1 \right] }{ \tan^2{(x)}} \\ &= \frac{\sec{(x)} - 1}{\tan{(x)}} \end{align*}[/math]

Alternate solution (from MarkFL):
Beginning with the left side of the identity, and utilizing double-angle identities for sine and cosine, we may write:

$$\frac{\tan(x)}{\sec(x)+1}\cdot\frac{\cos(x)}{\cos(x)}=\frac{\sin(x)}{1+\cos(x)}=\frac{\sin\left(2 \cdot\frac{x}{2} \right)}{1+\cos\left(2\cdot\frac{x}{2} \right)}=$$

$$\frac{2\sin\left(\frac{x}{2} \right)\cos\left(\frac{x}{2} \right)}{2\cos^2\left(\frac{x}{2} \right)}=\frac{2\sin\left(\frac{x}{2} \right)}{2\cos\left(\frac{x}{2} \right)}\cdot\frac{\sin\left(\frac{x}{2} \right)}{\sin\left(\frac{x}{2} \right)}=$$

$$\frac{2\sin^2\left(\frac{x}{2} \right)}{2\sin\left(\frac{x}{2} \right)\cos\left(\frac{x}{2} \right)}=\frac{1-\cos(x)}{\sin(x)}\cdot\frac{\sec(x)}{\sec(x)}= \frac{\sec(x)-1}{\tan(x)}$$
 

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