# Trigonometry Identities.

1. Jul 26, 2006

i need to prove the following identity

$$\sin^4 - \cos^4 = 1 - 2\cos^2$$

i have tried approaching this identity by solving the RHS (right hand side) of the equation but this lead no where. however i am unsure on how to maniplulate the LHS of this equation because of the power of 4. would somebody please be able to give me a slight hint in which direction to head to prove this?
many thanks,

2. Jul 26, 2006

Do you know how to factorize $$a^2-b^2$$? How can you use this to help you factorize $$a^4-b^4$$?

Also, the identity should have a variable (i.e. instead of $$sin^4$$, it should be $$sin^4x$$).

All the best!

3. Jul 26, 2006

oh, my mistake i forgot the $\theta$ sign after the trigonometric functions. i am not sure on how top factorise, sorry :(

4. Jul 26, 2006

### HallsofIvy

Long, long, long, before you learn about trigonometry, you should have learned that a2- b2= (a- b)(a+ b). And if we replace a by x2 and b by y2, we get that
x4- y4= (x2- y2)(x2+ y2). And what is x2+ y2 in this case?

5. Jul 26, 2006

can $x^2 + y^2$ be factorised? ive tried $(x + y)(x + y)$, $(x - y)(x - y)$, but neither have worked. am i completely missing the point here? its been a while since i have had to factorise. thanks

6. Jul 26, 2006

### BobG

In this case you don't have to, since $x^2=sin^2\theta$ and $y^2=cos^2\theta$.

7. Jul 26, 2006

### sdekivit

we don't need to factorize. Just use:

$$sin^{4} \theta = sin^{2} \theta \cdot sin^{2} \theta$$

$$sin^{2} \theta = 1 - cos^{2} \theta$$

$$(1-cos^{2} \theta) \cdot (1-cos^{2} \theta) = 1 - 2\cdot cos^{2} \theta + cos^{4} \theta$$

Now substract $cos^{4} \theta$ and you got your proof.

8. Jul 26, 2006

okay thanks for the help people, sorry to be a little slow

9. Jul 26, 2006

### hmm?

In addition to what these people said: you should try to remember identities that will serve as shortcuts when proving identities.

like: Sin^2 + Cos^2=1 <= this may be the most important one

Sin^2= 1 - Cos^2

Cos^2= 1 - Sin^2

10. Jul 26, 2006

### VietDao29

You're missing an angle here.
It should read sin2x, not just sin2 :)

11. Jul 26, 2006

### hmm?

You're absolutely right--all those -1 from omitted thetas and xs from test questions still haven't sunk in :/...haha.

12. Jul 26, 2006

### HallsofIvy

Unfortunately, I have had students declare that
$$\frac{sin x}{sin y}= \frac{x}{y}$$!

13. Jul 27, 2006

### Office_Shredder

Staff Emeritus
There aren't any parentheses, so it could just be that s, i, and n are all variables

14. Jul 27, 2006

### VietDao29

Well, I used to think $$\frac{sin x}{x} = sin$$ but then I found out it's worse than that. It's not just any sin, it's an X-rated video filmed in someone's kitchen sinc.