# Math Help - Differential trig problem

1. ## Differential trig problem

Hi, I'm obviously missing something here as I am only getting further awway from the answer.

show that d/dx (cos x + sin x/ cos x - sin x) = sec^2(pi/4 +x)

2. Originally Posted by slaypullingcat
Hi, I'm obviously missing something here as I am only getting further awway from the answer.

show that d/dx (cos x + sin x/ cos x - sin x) = sec^2(pi/4 +x)

let's do something with the secant mess first ...

$\sec^2\left(\frac{\pi}{4}+x\right) =$

$1 + \tan^2\left(\frac{\pi}{4}+x\right) =$

$1 + \left[ \frac{\tan\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right) + \tan{x}}{1 - \tan\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right)\tan{x}}\right]^2 =$

$1 + \left[\frac{1 + \tan{x}}{1 - \tan{x}}\right]^2 =$

$1 + \left[\frac{\cos{x}+\sin{x}}{\cos{x}-\sin{x}}\right]^2 =$

$\left[\frac{\cos{x}-\sin{x}}{\cos{x}-\sin{x}}\right]^2+ \left[\frac{\cos{x}+\sin{x}}{\cos{x}-\sin{x}}\right]^2 =$

$\frac{(\cos{x}-\sin{x})^2 + (\cos{x}+\sin{x})^2}{(\cos{x}-\sin{x})^2}$

now take the derivative of the left side and see if it matches up.

3. thank you very much, that was really easy to follow.