Verify a simplification with trig identity

mmwave · Jan 10, 2004

After a little calculus and lots of algebra I get the expression

cot(2la) = (l^2 - k^2) / (2kl)

it is suggested to simplify with the trig identity

tan(t/2) = sqrt(1 + cot^2(t) ) - cot(t)

when I do so, I get

tan(la) = k/l

notice that we have gone from cot(2la) to tan(la). The text I am reading says

tan(la) = l/k

which I think is wrong. Can someone else please give it a try?

the key step was combining the 1 + cot^2(t) over a common denom.

himanshu121 · Jan 11, 2004

i believe u might have missed out at other roots I get both -l/k as well as k/l

[tex]cot2la=\frac{1-tan^22la}{2tanla}=\frac{l^2-k^2}{2kl}[/tex]

After rearrangement u will get

[tex]kltan^2la+(l^2-k^2)tanla-kl=0[/tex]

so two roots will be given by

[tex]tanla=\frac{-(l^2-k^2) \pm \sqrt{(l^2-k^2)^2+4k^2l^2}}{2kl}[/tex]

After solving u will get the 2 roots

[tex]tanla = \frac{k}{l} \ & \ -\frac{l}{k}[/tex]

mmwave · Jan 11, 2004

Thanks. There is a second root but on that one the book & I agree so I assumed I was correct.

Also, I like you method better than the obscure substitution suggested by the book.

Log in or Sign up

Verify a simplification with trig identity

mmwave

himanshu121

mmwave

Verifying Trig Identities help! (Replies: 13)

Trig Identities (Replies: 4)

Trig Identities: (Replies: 2)

Divergence Simplification/Identities (Replies: 5)

Using trig identity to simplify? (Replies: 7)