# Math Help - [SOLVED] Proving Trig Identities

1. ## [SOLVED] Proving Trig Identities

I can't seem to solve this one. Could someone please show me?

1 - tan^2X
__________ = cos^2X - sin^2X
1 + tan^2X

Thanks!

2. Originally Posted by demo1
I can't seem to solve this one. Could someone please show me?

1 - tan^2X
__________ = cos^2X - sin^2X
1 + tan^2X

Thanks!
Multiply the numerator and denominator by $\cos^2(x)$

$\frac{\cos^2(x)}{\cos^2(x)}\left(\frac{1-\tan^2(x)}{1+\tan^2(x)} \right)=\frac{\cos^2(x)-\sin^2(x)}{\cos^2(x)+\sin^2(x)}=\cos^2(x)-\sin^2(x)$

3. Originally Posted by TheEmptySet
Multiply the numerator and denominator by $\cos^2(x)$

$\frac{\cos^2(x)}{\cos^2(x)}\left(\frac{1-\tan^2(x)}{1+\tan^2(x)} \right)=\frac{\cos^2(x)-\sin^2(x)}{\cos^2(x)+\sin^2(x)}=\cos^2(x)-\sin^2(x)$

How do you get from $\frac{\cos^2(x)-\sin^2(x)}{\cos^2(x)+\sin^2(x)}$ to here $\cos^2(x)-\sin^2(x)$? Thanks btw!

4. Originally Posted by demo1
How do you get from $\frac{\cos^2(x)-\sin^2(x)}{\cos^2(x)+\sin^2(x)}$ to here $\cos^2(x)-\sin^2(x)$? Thanks btw!
The pythagorean identity

$\sin^2(x)+\cos^2(x)=1$

5. Originally Posted by TheEmptySet
The pythagorean identity

$\sin^2(x)+\cos^2(x)=1$
Ah, I really need to review these. Can't believe I didn't see that. Thanks!