Why is sin(x) = 1 - cos(x) not an identity?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking why the equation sin(x) = 1 - cos(x) is not considered a trigonometric identity. To determine this, we can analyze both sides of the equation and compare their values for different angles.

Answer

The equation $sin(x) = 1 - cos(x)$ is not an identity because it fails for some angles, such as $x = \pi$.
Answer for screen readers

The equation $sin(x) = 1 - cos(x)$ is not a trigonometric identity because it does not hold true for all angles $x$.

Steps to Solve

  1. Evaluate Both Sides of the Equation
    Start by examining values for $x$ and calculating both sides of the equation $sin(x) = 1 - cos(x)$ to see if they are equal.

  2. Test Specific Angles
    Choose specific values for $x$, like $0$, $\frac{\pi}{2}$, and $\pi$, and evaluate both sides.

  • For $x = 0$:

    • Left side: $sin(0) = 0$
    • Right side: $1 - cos(0) = 1 - 1 = 0$ (both sides are equal)
  • For $x = \frac{\pi}{2}$:

    • Left side: $sin\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right) = 1$
    • Right side: $1 - cos\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right) = 1 - 0 = 1$ (both sides are equal)
  • For $x = \pi$:

    • Left side: $sin(\pi) = 0$
    • Right side: $1 - cos(\pi) = 1 - (-1) = 2$ (both sides are not equal)
  1. Check General Cases
    Investigate more angle values generally to see if both sides hold for all angles. Notice that they do not equal for all values, especially when $x$ is not among those tested.

  2. Conclusion on Non-Identity
    Since there are angles where the left side does not equal the right side, $sin(x) = 1 - cos(x)$ cannot be a trigonometric identity. An identity must hold true for all values of $x$.

The equation $sin(x) = 1 - cos(x)$ is not a trigonometric identity because it does not hold true for all angles $x$.

More Information

A trigonometric identity must be valid for all values in its domain. In this case, since we found specific angles (like $\pi$) for which the equation fails, it does not satisfy this requirement.

Tips

  • Assuming the equation is an identity without testing enough angles. Always check multiple angles, especially beyond trivial cases like $0$ and $\frac{\pi}{2}$.

AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information

Thank you for voting!
Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Browser