# Thread: Help proving an identity

1. ## Help proving an identity

I have the identity (tanx/(1-cotx)) + (cotx/(1-tanx)) = 1 + tanx + cotx

I have started by turning everything into tan, but from there i can't figure it out. Any help would be much appreciated, thank you.

2. Hi and welcome to the forums

Originally Posted by masterkale
I have the identity (tanx/(1-cotx)) + (cotx/(1-tanx)) = 1 + tanx + cotx

I have started by turning everything into tan, but from there i can't figure it out. Any help would be much appreciated, thank you.
I think this is pretty basic, so

(by the way I'm going to use that $\displaystyle tan(x) = \frac{1}{cot(x)}$ )

$\displaystyle \frac{tan}{1-cot} + \frac{cot}{1-tan}$

$\displaystyle \frac{tan^2}{tan-1} + \frac{cot}{1-tan}$

$\displaystyle -\frac{tan^2}{1-tan} + \frac{cot}{1-tan}$

$\displaystyle \frac{cot - tan^2}{1-tan}$

$\displaystyle \frac{1 - tan^3}{tan(1-tan)}$

$\displaystyle \frac{(1 - tan)( 1 + tan +tan^2)}{tan(1-tan)}$

$\displaystyle \frac{( 1 + tan +tan^2)}{tan}$

$\displaystyle 1 + tan + cot$

do you still have questions on that problem? Then let us know

Rapha