Solve Identity: 1/(cosA+sinA) + 1/(cosA-sinA)=tan2AcosecA

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving the trigonometric identity: 1/(cosA+sinA) + 1/(cosA-sinA) = tan2AcosecA. Participants are exploring relationships between trigonometric functions and identities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss simplifying the left-hand side (LHS) of the equation and relate cos^2A - sin^2A to cos2A. There are suggestions to express tan and csc in terms of sine and cosine. Some participants question how to manipulate the expressions to reach the right-hand side (RHS).

Discussion Status

Several participants have made progress in simplifying the LHS and are considering how to relate their findings to the RHS. There are hints and suggestions regarding the use of trigonometric identities, but no consensus has been reached on the final steps.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of proving an identity without providing complete solutions. There is an emphasis on using known trigonometric identities and relationships.

brandon26
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Please help me prove this identity:

1/(cosA+sinA) + 1/(cosA-sinA) = tan2AcosecA

I got as far as LHS= 2cosA/cos^2A - sin^2A.
I can't go any further, please help!:confused:
 
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Well, how is cos^2A-sin^2A related to cos2A?
 
And then for the RHS, try changing the tan and the csc to the corresponding sine and/or cosine expressions.
 
arildno said:
Well, how is cos^2A-sin^2A related to cos2A?[/QUOT
one side is equal to the other.
 
I got as far as simplifying the equation to 2cosA / cos2A. What now?
 
brandon26 said:
Please help me prove this identity:

1/(cosA+sinA) + 1/(cosA-sinA) = tan2AcosecA

I got as far as LHS= 2cosA/cos^2A - sin^2A.

So far so good. To finish you'll need the following trig identity:

\tan(2A)=\frac{2\tan(A)}{1-\tan^2(A)}

You'll want to try to make the LHS of your identity look like that. To do that you'll need to divide the numerator and denominator of your expression by some other expression, and you need to figure out which one that is.

Hint: Look at the 1 in the denominator above. What would you have to divide \cos^2(A) by to get a 1?
 
Last edited:
The simplest way is now to see:
\frac{2\cos(A)}{\cos(2A)}=1*\frac{2\cos(A)}{\cos(2A)}=\frac{\sin(2A)}{\sin(2A)}*\frac{2\cos(A)}{\cos(2A)}=\frac{2\cos(A)}{\sin(2A)}\tan(2A)

I'll leave the last step to you..
 
Last edited:
brandon26 said:
I got as far as simplifying the equation to 2cosA / cos2A. What now?
Once you have this, substitute tan(2a) by sin(2a)/cos(2a) and use the double angle formula on sin(2a). After that, realize that csc(a) = 1/sin(a) and you should be there :smile:
 
arildno said:
The simplest way is now to see:
\frac{2\cos(A)}{\cos(2A)}=1*\frac{2\cos(A)}{\cos(2A)}=\frac{\sin(2A)}{\sin(2A)}*\frac{2\cos(A)}{\cos(2A)}=\frac{2\cos(A)}{\sin(2A)}\tan(2A)
I'll leave the last step to you..

tan2A (2cosA/sin2A) = tan2A (2cosA/ (2sinAcosA)) = tan2AcosecA.

Safe boys!:biggrin:
 

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