1. Simplifying math identity

this problem has been bugging me for a long time

1/1-secx + 1/1+secx

i keep ending up with 2/1-sec^2(x)

can anybody help what am i doing wrong

2. Originally Posted by something3k
this problem has been bugging me for a long time

1/1-secx + 1/1+secx

i keep ending up with 2/1-sec^2(x)

can anybody help what am i doing wrong
Did you know: $1 + tan^2 x = sec^2 x$?

If you don't want to use that identity I suggest you write the expression as $\frac{1}{1-\sec x} + \frac{1}{1+\sec x} = \frac{1}{\frac{\cos x -1}{\cos x}} + \frac{1}{\frac{\cos x +1}{\cos x}} = \frac{\cos x}{\cos x -1}+ \frac{\cos x}{\cos x +1}$ first.

3. Originally Posted by something3k
this problem has been bugging me for a long time

1/1-secx + 1/1+secx

i keep ending up with 2/1-sec^2(x)

can anybody help what am i doing wrong
so, you have $\frac{2}{1-sec^{2}x}$

$sex^2x-tan^2x=1$

so,

$tan^2x = sec^2x -1$

$-tan^2x = -sec^2x+1 =1-sec^2x$

so your denominator is equivalent to $-tan^2x$, thus giving you

$\frac{2}{-tan^2x} = -2cot^2x$ [because $cotx = \frac{1}{tanx}$]