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Can someone help me prove this trig ID?

cot^2a=cos^2a+(cota*cosa)^2

^2= squared

2 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    notice Cot(a) is both 1/tan and cos/sin.

    Cot(a)^2=cos(a)^2+((cos(a)/sin(a) * cos(a))^2

    cos(a)^2/sin(a)^2=cos(a)^2 + (cos(a)^4/sin^2(a))

    cos(a)^2 = cos(a)^2 * sin(a)^2 + cos(a)^4

    cos(a)^2 - cos(a)^4 = cos(a)^2 * sin(a)^2

    cos(a)^2 (1-cos(a)^2) = cos(a)^2 * sin(a)^2

    Notice 1 - cos(a)^2 = sin(a)^2 ------>Trig identity.

    By dividing by cos(a)^2 and using the previously stated trig identity we have

    sin(a)^2 = sin(a)^2

    Proven ;)

    Hope i helped.

    Source(s): Math Major
  • Como
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    Let us refer to angle as Ө for no other reason that it looks better !

    RHS

    cos²Ө + ( cos Ө cos Ө / sin Ө )²

    cos²Ө + ( cos²Ө / sin Ө )²

    cos²Ө + (cosӨ)^4 / sin²Ө

    cos²Ө sin²Ө + (cosӨ)^4

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

    sin²Ө

    cos²Ө [ sin²Ө + cos²Ө ]

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

    sin²Ө

    cos²Ө

    ----------

    sin²Ө

    cot²Ө

    RHS

    ---------

    cot²Ө

    LHS = RHS

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