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Proving trigonometric identities

Please help, my teacher hasn't really explained how to prove these different trig identities I have no idea where to start.

I need to prove the following trig identities:
(i) 1-cos^2θ = sin^2θ

(ii) (1-sin^2θ) tanθ = cosθ sinθ

(iii) 1/sin^θ - cos^2θ/sin^2θ = 1

(iv) tan^2θ = 1/cos^2θ -1

thanks if anyone can help
Reply 1
https://youtu.be/EhCAt7uwNwU
Watch this. He covers it pretty well.
(edited 6 years ago)
I’ll use x instead of theta. Also keep in mind (sin(x))/(cos(x)) = tan(x)

i) sin(x) = o/h, cos(x) = a/h
Therefore sin^2(x) + cos^2(x) = (o^2 + a^2)/(h^2)
But because of Pythagoras o^2 + a^2 = h^2
So sin^2(x) + cos^2(x) = (h^2)/(h^2) = 1
Rearranging 1 - cos^2(x) = sin^2(x)

ii) Rearranging i), 1 - sin^2(x) = cos^2(x)
Now times both sides by tan(x).
Because tan(x)cos(x) = sin(x) one of the cos(x)s in cos^2(x) becomes a sin(x)
Therefore (1 - sin^2(x))tan(x) = cos(x)sin(x)

iii) Again i) says 1 - cos^2(x) = sin^2(x)
Now divide each term by (sin^2(x))
Done.

iv) Similar to iii) except divide everything by (cos^2(x)) instead of (sin^2(x)).
Original post by TheTree0fDeath
I’ll use x instead of theta. Also keep in mind (sin(x))/(cos(x)) = tan(x)

i) sin(x) = o/h, cos(x) = a/h
Therefore sin^2(x) + cos^2(x) = (o^2 + a^2)/(h^2)
But because of Pythagoras o^2 + a^2 = h^2
So sin^2(x) + cos^2(x) = (h^2)/(h^2) = 1
Rearranging 1 - cos^2(x) = sin^2(x)

ii) Rearranging i), 1 - sin^2(x) = cos^2(x)
Now times both sides by tan(x).
Because tan(x)cos(x) = sin(x) one of the cos(x)s in cos^2(x) becomes a sin(x)
Therefore (1 - sin^2(x))tan(x) = cos(x)sin(x)

iii) Again i) says 1 - cos^2(x) = sin^2(x)
Now divide each term by (sin^2(x))
Done.

iv) Similar to iii) except divide everything by (cos^2(x)) instead of (sin^2(x)).


thanks very much! A lot simpler than I thought.

Okay can you tell me why/how:

1/cos^2(x) + 1/sin^2(x) = 1/cos^2(x)sin^2(x) ?
Original post by challonergreen
thanks very much! A lot simpler than I thought.

Okay can you tell me why/how:

1/cos^2(x) + 1/sin^2(x) = 1/cos^2(x)sin^2(x) ?


Ok so just use the method you usually do to put two fractions over the same denominator. Times the 1/cos^2(x) top and bottom by sin^2(x). Times the 1/sin^2(x) top and bottom by cos^2(x). Now the denominators are both sin^2(x)cos^2(x) we can put it over one fraction.

This gives (sin^2(x) + cos^2(x))/(cos^2(x)sin^2(x))
But we know from i) sin^2(x) + cos^2(x) = 1
So therefore the top of our fraction just becomes 1 which gives us 1/(sin^2(x)cos^2(x))

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