Simplify expressions using trigonometric identities

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Pre-Calculus › Simplify expressions using trigonometric identities

Questions 1 - 10
1

Simplify .

Explanation

Write the Pythagorean Identity.

Reorganize the left side of this equation so that it matches the form:

Subtract cosine squared theta on both sides.

Multiply both sides by 3.

2

Find the exact value of each expression below without the aid of a calculator.

Explanation

In order to find the exact value of we can use the half angle formula for sin, which is

.

This way we can plug in a value for alpha for which we know the exact value. is equal to divided by two, and so we can plug in for the alpha above.

The cosine of is .

Therefore our final answer becomes,

.

3

Which of the following is equivalent to the expression:

Explanation

Which of the following is equivalent to the following expression?

Recall our Pythagorean trig identity:

It can be rearranged to look just like our numerator:

So go ahead and change our original expression to:

Then recall the definition of cosecant:

So our original expression can be rewritten as:

So our answer is:

4

Simplify:

Explanation

Write the reciprocal identity for cosecant.

Rewrite the expression and use the double angle identities for sine to simplify.

5

Determine which of the following is equivalent to .

Explanation

Rewirte using the reciprocal identity of cosine.

6

Simplify:

Explanation

Write the even and odd identities for sine and cosine.

Rewrite the expression and evaluate.

7

Solve over the domain to .

Explanation

We can rewrite the left side of the equation using the angle difference formula for cosine

as

.

From here we just take the of both sides and then add to get .

8

Simplify:

Explanation

In order to simplify , rewrite the expression after applying the rule of odd-even identities for the secant function.

9

Let , , and be real numbers. Given that:

What is the value of in function of ?

Explanation

We note first, using trigonometric identities that:

This gives:

Since,

We have :

10

Using the fact that,

.

What is the result of the following sum:

Explanation

We can write the above sum as :

From the given fact, we have :

and we have : .

This gives :

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