Trigonometric identities transformation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around transforming a trigonometric identity involving sine and cosine functions. Participants are attempting to manipulate the left-hand side of the equation to match the right-hand side, exploring various algebraic and trigonometric techniques. The scope includes mathematical reasoning and problem-solving related to trigonometric identities.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in transforming the left side of the equation to match the right side, noting that their attempts result in jumbled terms.
  • Another participant suggests using the identity $\cos^2(x) = 1 - \sin^2(x)$ to simplify the left-hand side and recommends expanding both sides of the equation.
  • A later reply reiterates the use of the identity and provides a step-by-step expansion of the left-hand side, identifying it as a difference of squares.
  • Another participant confirms the transformation of the left side using the same identity and presents a simplified form of the left-hand side, indicating that it can be treated as a difference of squares.
  • One participant provides a detailed breakdown of the expansion process, showing how to factor the resulting expression into two binomials.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the approach of using the identity $\cos^2(x) = 1 - \sin^2(x)$ to simplify the left-hand side. However, there is no consensus on the final transformation or whether the expressions are equivalent, as different participants present varying steps and interpretations.

Contextual Notes

Some steps in the algebraic manipulation are not fully resolved, and there may be assumptions about the equivalence of the expressions that are not explicitly stated. The discussion includes various intermediate forms and transformations that may depend on specific algebraic techniques.

Drain Brain
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I already did everything that I can to transform the left side member to the right side member but I always get a jumbled terms. Please give me a hand on this problem.

$(2\sin^{2}(\theta)-\cos^{2}(\theta))^{2}-9(2\sin^{2}(\theta)-1)^{2}=(2-3\sin^{2}(\theta))(2+3\sin(\theta))(3\sin(\theta)-2)$
 
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Hey Drain Brain.

ok so for the LHS you have to use a trig sub $cos^2(x)=1-sin^2(x)$

$(2sin^2(x)-(1-sin^2(x)))^2-9(2sin^2(x)-1)^2$ expand this. multiply it out.

for the RHS just expand what you have

$(2-3sin^2(x))(2+3sin(x))(3sin(x)-2)$ = $-8-27\sin ^4\left(x\right)+30\sin ^2\left(x\right)$

make sure the LHS is equal to what I showed for the RHS (you can work out the intermediate steps to show the expansion)

when working on this type of problems, i don't know if it works for you, but i always like to have a sheet of all the trig identities and everything so i can reference to. you may have to play with them a little bit to solve for certain things but NORMALLY you should try to get the whole thing in terms for one thingy only (i forgot what its called) like do it all in terms of sine or all in terms of cosine and if you have tangent you may want to simplify to sine and cosine. so yeah, i hope that helps. and by the way i just realized i did the whole thing using 'x' instead of theta by mistake (Blush) but just make sure not to write 'x' down when you're doing it. :o
 
oh just to note $cos^2(x)=1-sin^2(x)$ is just $sin^2(x)+cos^2(x)=1$ :)
 
Drain Brain said:
I already did everything that I can to transform the left side member to the right side member but I always get a jumbled terms. Please give me a hand on this problem.

$(2\sin^{2}(\theta)-\cos^{2}(\theta))^{2}-9(2\sin^{2}(\theta)-1)^{2}=(2-3\sin^{2}(\theta))(2+3\sin(\theta))(3\sin(\theta)-2)$
I see that there is no $\cos\theta$ on the RHS so convert $\cos^2\theta$ on LHS to $1-\sin ^2\theta$ and get LHS as
$(3\sin^{2}(\theta)-1))^{2}-9(2\sin^{2}(\theta)-1)^{2}$
which is difference of 2 squares.
now you should be able to proceed
 
Hello, Drain Brain!

$(2\sin^2x-\cos^2x)^2-9(2\sin^2x-1)^2\;=\;(2-3\sin^2x)(2+3\sin x)(3\sin x-2)$
Since $\cos^2x \:=\:1-\sin^2x$, the left side becomes:

$\quad (3\sin^2x-1)^2 - 9(2\sin^2x-1)^2\qquad $difference of squares!

$\;\;=\;\big[(3\sin^2x-1) - 3(2\sin^2x-1)\big]\,\big[(3\sin^2x-1) + 3(2\sin^2x - 1)\big] $

$\;\;=\;\big[3\sin^2x-1-6\sin^2x+3\big]\,\big[3\sin^2x-1 + 6\sin^2x-3\big]$

$\;\;=\;(2-\sin^2x)(9\sin^2x-4)$

$\;\;=\; (2-\sin^2x)(3\sin x - 2)(3\sin x + 2)$
 

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