Prove the identity: (cos θ + sin θ)/(cosθ-sinθ) ≡ sec 2θ + tan 2θ

First rewrite right hand side in terms of sinθ and cosθ, because those are the terms we'll be dealing with on the left hand side: sec2θ+tan2θ = 1/cos2θ + sin2θ/cos2θ, so RHS = (1+sin2θ)/cos2θNow look at the LHS side terms. We probably want to get rid of the cosθ-sinθ on the bottom line to try and get the LHS to look like the RHS. Try multiplying by (cosθ+sinθ) on top and bottom: gives (cos2θ+sin2θ+ 2cosθsinθ)/(cos2θ-sin2θ)Now apply double angle formulas: cos2θ+sin2θ=1 sin2θ= 2cosθsinθ cos2θ-sin2θ=cos2θsubstituting in with these formulas leaves: (1+sin2θ)/cos2θwhich, as we worked out at the start, is equal to sec2θ+tan2θ!

MM
Answered by Margot M. Maths tutor

8108 Views

See similar Maths A Level tutors

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

Differentiaate the folowing equation with respect to x: y=4x^3-3x^2+9x+2


Find the area enclosed by the curve y = cos(x) * e^x and the x-axis on the interval (-pi/2, pi/2)


Integrate y with respect to x, where y = cos(x)/[1+tan^2(x)]


Express cos(2x) in the form acos^2(x) + b, where a and b are constants.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning