1. ## different answers for derivative?(Solved)

Take this trigonometric function:

$\displaystyle \frac{d \(sin{(\cos{\theta})})^2}{d \theta}}$

Using the chain rule i think it becomes:

$\displaystyle -2\theta\sin{(\cos{\theta})}\sin{\theta}$

But if we use the identity:

$\displaystyle \sin^2{\theta} = 1-\cos^2{\theta}$

then the equation becomes

$\displaystyle \frac{d (1-\theta^2)}{d \theta}} = -2\theta$

But if,

$\displaystyle -2\theta = -2\theta\sin{(\cos{\theta})}\sin{\theta}$

then,

$\displaystyle \sin{(\cos{\theta})}\sin{\theta} = 1$

Which doesn't appear so. Why am I getting different answers for the same derivative? Did I do something wrong in the above steps?

I accidentally took :

$\displaystyle \cos(\cos\theta) = \theta$

P.S. This is my first post and using [tex] is VERY slow and irritating, is there a faster way to insert math expressions

2. ## Re: different answers for derivative?

Originally Posted by dhtikna
Take this trigonometric function:
$\displaystyle \frac{d \(sin{(\cos{\theta})})^2}{d \theta}}$

Using the chain rule i think it becomes:
$\displaystyle -2\theta\sin{(\cos{\theta})}\sin{\theta}$

This part of the post is correct. But none of the rest makes any sense.

It is the case that $\displaystyle \sin^2(\cos(\theta))=1-\cos^2(\cos(\theta))$. But that cannot be simplified.

They both have the same derivative.

3. ## Re: different answers for derivative?

$\displaystyle cos(arccos(x))= x$ but you have $\displaystyle cos(cos(\theta))$ which is NOT $\displaystyle \theta$.

4. ## Re: different answers for derivative?

I Can't belive i was so stupid. I hadn't been doing trig for a long time so i messed up when I took:

$\displaystyle \cos({\cos\theta}) = \theta$

By the way, any have a answer to my P.S.:

P.S. This is my first post and using [tex] is VERY slow and irritating, is there a faster way to insert math expressions

5. ## Re: different answers for derivative?

Originally Posted by dhtikna
I Can't belive i was so stupid. I hadn't been doing trig for a long time so i messed up when I took:

$\displaystyle \cos({\cos\theta}) = \theta$

By the way, any have a answer to my P.S.:

P.S. This is my first post and using [tex] is VERY slow and irritating, is there a faster way to insert math expressions
Yes, get good at copying and pasting the preamble, learn the code and type faster :P