Wednesday, June 27, 2012

prove that sin^4(theta)-cos^4(theta)=sin^2(theta)-cos^2(theta)trigonometry

We have to prove: sin^4(theta) - cos^4(theta) =
sin^2(theta) - cos^2(theta)


First let's write the terms in
a standard form and use x instead of theta.


So we have to
prove (sin x)^4 - (cos x)^4 = (sin x)^2 - (cos x)^2


Start
with the left hand side:


(sin x)^4 - (cos
x)^4


we use the relation x^2 - y^2 = (x - y)(x +
y)


=> [(sin x)^2 - (cos x)^2][(sin x)^2 + (cos
x)^2]


we know that [(sin x)^2 + (cos x)^2] =
1


=> [(sin x)^2 - (cos x)^2] *
1


=> [(sin x)^2 - (cos
x)^2]


which is the right hand
side.


This proves that sin^4(theta) -
cos^4(theta) = sin^2(theta) - cos^2(theta)

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