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Solve the following trigonometric identity:

[tex]\tan ^2 \theta - \cot ^2 \theta = \sec ^2 \theta \left(1 - \cot ^2 \theta \right)[/tex]


Sagot :

Certainly! To verify the identity [tex]\(\tan^2 \theta - \cot^2 \theta = \sec^2 \theta (1 - \cot^2 \theta)\)[/tex], let's carefully go through the expressions step by step.

1. Left-hand side (LHS):
[tex]\[ \tan^2 \theta - \cot^2 \theta \][/tex]

We know that [tex]\(\cot \theta = \frac{1}{\tan \theta}\)[/tex], thus:
[tex]\[ \cot^2 \theta = \left( \frac{1}{\tan \theta} \right)^2 = \frac{1}{\tan^2 \theta} \][/tex]

Therefore, substituting [tex]\(\cot^2 \theta\)[/tex] in the LHS:
[tex]\[ \tan^2 \theta - \frac{1}{\tan^2 \theta} \][/tex]

2. Right-hand side (RHS):
[tex]\[ \sec^2 \theta (1 - \cot^2 \theta) \][/tex]

We know that [tex]\(\sec \theta = \frac{1}{\cos \theta}\)[/tex] and using [tex]\(\cot \theta = \frac{\cos \theta}{\sin \theta}\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ \sec^2 \theta = 1 + \tan^2 \theta \][/tex]

Therefore, substituting [tex]\(\sec^2 \theta\)[/tex] and simplifying [tex]\(1 - \cot^2 \theta\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ \sec^2 \theta \left(1 - \frac{1}{\tan^2 \theta}\right) \][/tex]

3. Simplifying inside the parentheses on the RHS:
[tex]\[ 1 - \frac{1}{\tan^2 \theta} = \frac{\tan^2 \theta - 1}{\tan^2 \theta} \][/tex]

Thus, the RHS expression becomes:
[tex]\[ \sec^2 \theta \cdot \frac{\tan^2 \theta - 1}{\tan^2 \theta} \][/tex]

We know:
[tex]\[ \sec^2 \theta = 1 + \tan^2 \theta \][/tex]

Substituting [tex]\(\sec^2 \theta\)[/tex] back in:
[tex]\[ (1 + \tan^2 \theta) \cdot \frac{\tan^2 \theta - 1}{\tan^2 \theta} \][/tex]

Rewriting the RHS fully:
[tex]\[ (1 + \tan^2 \theta) \cdot \frac{\tan^2 \theta - 1}{\tan^2 \theta} \][/tex]

We get the product:
[tex]\[ \frac{(\tan^2 \theta - 1)(1 + \tan^2 \theta)}{\tan^2 \theta} \][/tex]


After performing these steps and comparing the simplified forms, we see that:

- The LHS simplifies to [tex]\(\tan^2 \theta - \frac{1}{\tan^2 \theta}\)[/tex]
- The RHS simplifies to [tex]\(\frac{(\tan^2 \theta - 1)(1 + \tan^2 \theta)}{\tan^2 \theta}\)[/tex]

Upon cross-comparison, it is clear that [tex]\(\tan^2 \theta - \cot^2 \theta\)[/tex] and [tex]\(\sec^2 \theta (1 - \cot^2 \theta)\)[/tex] are not identical expressions for the given function properties. Therefore, the original equation:
[tex]\[ \tan^2 \theta - \cot^2 \theta = \sec^2 \theta (1 - \cot^2 \theta) \][/tex]
is not valid for all [tex]\(\theta\)[/tex].

Hence, we conclude:
The statement [tex]\(\tan^2 \theta - \cot^2 \theta = \sec^2 \theta (1 - \cot^2 \theta)\)[/tex] is False.