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Prove this Trig Identity: (sinx-1)(tanx + secx) = -cosx?

2 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Hi,

    Although I do not think it is right for me to give you away answers to your homework, I have a wonderful video lesson on my website that could help you learn how to use and memorize all the trig identities you need. Check this out:

    http://www.cosmolearning.com/mathematics/videos/53...

    I believe teaching yourself how to deal with trig identities will benefit you much more than simply telling you the answer to this particular math question: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

    Hope it helps! (=

  • Ron W
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Multiply out:

    (sin(x) - 1)(tan(x) + sec(x)) = sin(x)tan(x) - tan(x) + sin(x)sec(x) - sec(x)

    Replace tan(x) by sin(x)/cos(x) and sec(x) by 1/cos(x):

    sin(x)[sin(x)/cos(x)] - sin(x)/cos(x) + sin(x)/cos(x) - 1/cos(x)

    The middle two terms cancel. Multiply out the first term and combine it with the last term

    sin²(x)/cos(x) - 1/cos(x)

    (sin²(x) - 1)/cos(x)

    Use the identity sin²(x) = 1 - cos²(x):

    (1 - cos²(x) - 1) / cos(x)

    which simplifies to -cos(x)

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