# Math Help - Factoring Trigonometric Expression

1. ## Factoring Trigonometric Expression

Hello Everyone,
I have to factor the following expression and I can't figure out the proper procedures to do it .

I'm assuming that I must take the difference of squares?

$\frac{1}{3} - \frac{2}{3}sin^2(x) + \frac{1}{3}sin^4(x)$

2. ## Re: Factoring Trigonometric Expression

Remove the 1/3 as a common factor and then make use of $(a-1)^{2}\equiv a^{2} - 2a + 1$ followed by the trig identity $\sin ^{2}A + \cos^{2}A=1.$

3. ## Re: Factoring Trigonometric Expression

Originally Posted by vaironxxrd
I have to factor the following expression and I can't figure out the proper procedures to do it .
$\frac{1}{3} - \frac{2}{3}sin^2(x) + \frac{1}{3}sin^4(x)$

$\frac{1}{3} - \frac{2}{3}sin^2(x) + \frac{1}{3}sin^4(x)=\frac{(1-sin^2(x))^2}{3}$.

4. ## Re: Factoring Trigonometric Expression

Originally Posted by Plato
$\frac{1}{3} - \frac{2}{3}sin^2(x) + \frac{1}{3}sin^4(x)=\frac{(1-sin^2(x))^2}{3}$.
Plato is the following acceptable?

$\frac{1}{3} - \frac{2}{3}sin^2(x) + \frac{1}{3}sin^4(x) = \frac{1}{3}(1-2sin^2(x)+sin^4(x))$

5. ## Re: Factoring Trigonometric Expression

Originally Posted by vaironxxrd
Plato is the following acceptable?

$\frac{1}{3} - \frac{2}{3}sin^2(x) + \frac{1}{3}sin^4(x) = \frac{1}{3}(1-2sin^2(x)+sin^4(x))$

Acceptable to whom?

How would I know that answer to that?