Homework Help: Trigonometric Identity Problem

Sabellic · Aug 17, 2008

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9099/titleol2.jpg [Broken]
http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=206&i=titleol2.jpg [Broken]

Show the above statement is equivalent to : sec (2x) + tan (2x)

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

First attempt in which I used the distributive Law early:
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/876/attempt1pf3.jpg [Broken]
http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=237&i=attempt1pf3.jpg [Broken]

Second attempt in which I first solved within the brackets and then used the Distributive Law later:

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/361/attempt2rz9.jpg [Broken]
http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=237&i=attempt2rz9.jpg [Broken]

Please help me.
Thanks.

Geekchick · Aug 17, 2008

Let see how do I put this...You have to add (multiply really) to your problem instead of dissecting it. After you do that you'll end up using the double angle formula on part of the top equation and the bottom. You will also have to use the pythagorean identity on the top. The main part however is the first step after you multiply it out the rest is rather straight forward. I don't know how good I am at giving directions so let me know if this makes any sense or not.

Sabellic · Aug 17, 2008

Thanks for the reply. Yes, it's very difficult to explain these online.

Where do you think I made my first error? which row of operations?

Geekchick · Aug 17, 2008

Well to start you keep trying to use the reciprocal forms and multiply thats not right. You have to leave the problem as is then multiply both the top and bottom by a pair of numbers that will end up, after using one of the identities mentions, a monomial denominator.
I don't think I am suppose to say exactly what to multiply it by since your not suppose to give straight answers on here. I can tell you all you use when solving it is sin and cos. How's that?

Sabellic · Aug 17, 2008

I tried with the conjugate. (cosx+sinx). But that didn't solve the problem.

Now i have:
1+sin2x / cos^2x - sin^2x

Geekchick · Aug 17, 2008

Thats nearly it all you have to do now is use the double angle formula on the bottom to get cos2x. Then just separate them so you have sin2x/cos2x + 1/cos2x then use the quotient identity and the reciprocal identity to get your answer. You should be able to see that.

Defennder · Aug 17, 2008

Convert them to the form of f(x) instead f(2x). Something will cancel out.

Geekchick · Aug 17, 2008

What do you mean?

Sabellic · Aug 17, 2008

Oh, I got it.!!!

Thank you very much.

Geekchick · Aug 17, 2008

oh you're welcome sabellic!

Sabellic · Aug 17, 2008

It's a matter of using the conjugate to get a denominator that is a monomial as Geekchick had said from the Double Angle Formulae. After simplifying, you need to use the reciprocal identities at the end.