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I need help with a trig problem?

I have to simplify this expression down to 2csc^2x

I started with 1/1+cosx + 1/1-cosx

Please help?

1 Answer

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  • 9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    1/1+cos(x) + 1/1-cos(x)

    find common denominators

    [1+cos(x)] * [1-cos(x)] = 1 - cos²(x)

    [1-cos(x)]/[1-cos²(x)] + [1+cos(x)]/[1-cos²(x)]

    = [1 - cos(x) + 1 + cos(x)] / [1 - cos²(x)]

    ----------------------------------------

    Trigonometric Identity:

    1 - cos²(x) = sin²(x)

    ----------------------------------------

    = 2 / sin²(x)

    ----------------------------------------

    Trigonometric Identity:

    1/sin(x) = csc(x)

    ----------------------------------------

    = 2csc²(x)

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