Simplifying Trigonometric Equations

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 34 views

Introduction

Trigonometric equations are a fundamental aspect of mathematics, and solving them requires a deep understanding of trigonometric identities and formulas. In this article, we will simplify the given trigonometric equation: $\sin^2(6x) - \sin^2(4x) = \sin(2x) \sin(10x)$ . We will use various trigonometric identities and formulas to simplify the equation and arrive at a final solution.

Trigonometric Identities

Before we begin simplifying the equation, let's review some essential trigonometric identities that we will use:

Pythagorean Identity: $\sin^2(x) + \cos^2(x) = 1$
Double Angle Formula: $\sin(2x) = 2\sin(x)\cos(x)$
Product-to-Sum Formula: $\sin(a)\sin(b) = \frac{1}{2}[\cos(a-b) - \cos(a+b)]$

Simplifying the Equation

Now, let's simplify the given equation using the trigonometric identities mentioned above.

$\sin^2(6x) - \sin^2(4x) = \sin(2x) \sin(10x)$

We can start by using the Pythagorean Identity to express $\sin^2(6x)$ and $\sin^2(4x)$ in terms of $\cos^2(6x)$ and $\cos^2(4x)$ :

$\sin^2(6x) = 1 - \cos^2(6x)$ $\sin^2(4x) = 1 - \cos^2(4x)$

Substituting these expressions into the original equation, we get:

$(1 - \cos^2(6x)) - (1 - \cos^2(4x)) = \sin(2x) \sin(10x)$

Simplifying the equation further, we get:

$-\cos^2(6x) + \cos^2(4x) = \sin(2x) \sin(10x)$

Using the Double Angle Formula

Now, let's use the Double Angle Formula to express $\sin(2x)$ and $\sin(10x)$ in terms of $\sin(x)$ and $\cos(x)$ :

$\sin(2x) = 2\sin(x)\cos(x)$ $\sin(10x) = 2\sin(5x)\cos(5x)$

Substituting these expressions into the equation, we get:

$-\cos^2(6x) + \cos^2(4x) = 2\sin(x)\cos(x) \cdot 2\sin(5x)\cos(5x)$

Simplifying the equation further, we get:

$-\cos^2(6x) + \cos^2(4x) = 4\sin(x)\cos(x)\sin(5x)\cos(5x)$

Using the Product-to-Sum Formula

Now, let's use the Product-to-Sum Formula to express the product of $\sin(x)\cos(x)$ and $\sin(5x)\cos(5x)$ in terms of $\cos(x)$ and $\sin(x)$ :

$\sin(x)\cos(x) = \frac{1}{2}[\sin(2x) + \sin(0)]$ $\sin(5x)\cos(5x) = \frac{1}{2}[\sin(10x) + \sin(0)]$

Substituting these expressions into the equation, we get:

$-\cos^2(6x) + \cos^2(4x) = 4\cdot\frac{1}{2}[\sin(2x) + \sin(0)]\cdot\frac{1}{2}[\sin(10x) + \sin(0)]$

Simplifying the equation further, we get:

$-\cos^2(6x) + \cos^2(4x) = 2[\sin(2x) + \sin(0)][\sin(10x) + \sin(0)]$

Final Simplification

Now, let's simplify the equation further by expanding the product:

$-\cos^2(6x) + \cos^2(4x) = 2[\sin(2x)\sin(10x) + \sin(2x)\sin(0) + \sin(0)\sin(10x) + \sin(0)\sin(0)]$

Simplifying the equation further, we get:

$-\cos^2(6x) + \cos^2(4x) = 2[\sin(2x)\sin(10x) + \sin(2x)\sin(0) + \sin(0)\sin(10x)]$

Since $\sin(0) = 0$ , the equation simplifies to:

$-\cos^2(6x) + \cos^2(4x) = 2\sin(2x)\sin(10x)$

Conclusion

In this article, we simplified the given trigonometric equation: $\sin^2(6x) - \sin^2(4x) = \sin(2x) \sin(10x)$ . We used various trigonometric identities and formulas to simplify the equation and arrive at a final solution. The final simplified equation is:

$-\cos^2(6x) + \cos^2(4x) = 2\sin(2x)\sin(10x)$

This equation can be further simplified using other trigonometric identities and formulas. However, the above solution provides a clear and concise way to simplify the given equation.

References

Trigonometry by Michael Corral
Calculus by Michael Spivak
Trigonometric Identities by Math Open Reference

Introduction

In our previous article, we simplified the trigonometric equation: $\sin^2(6x) - \sin^2(4x) = \sin(2x) \sin(10x)$ . We used various trigonometric identities and formulas to simplify the equation and arrive at a final solution. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to simplifying trigonometric equations.

Q: What are some common trigonometric identities used to simplify equations?

A: Some common trigonometric identities used to simplify equations include:

Pythagorean Identity: $\sin^2(x) + \cos^2(x) = 1$
Double Angle Formula: $\sin(2x) = 2\sin(x)\cos(x)$
Product-to-Sum Formula: $\sin(a)\sin(b) = \frac{1}{2}[\cos(a-b) - \cos(a+b)]$

Q: How do I use the Pythagorean Identity to simplify a trigonometric equation?

A: To use the Pythagorean Identity to simplify a trigonometric equation, you can express $\sin^2(x)$ and $\cos^2(x)$ in terms of each other. For example, if you have the equation $\sin^2(x) + \cos^2(x) = 1$ , you can substitute $\sin^2(x)$ with $1 - \cos^2(x)$ to simplify the equation.

Q: How do I use the Double Angle Formula to simplify a trigonometric equation?

A: To use the Double Angle Formula to simplify a trigonometric equation, you can express $\sin(2x)$ in terms of $\sin(x)$ and $\cos(x)$ . For example, if you have the equation $\sin(2x) = 2\sin(x)\cos(x)$ , you can substitute $\sin(2x)$ with $2\sin(x)\cos(x)$ to simplify the equation.

Q: How do I use the Product-to-Sum Formula to simplify a trigonometric equation?

A: To use the Product-to-Sum Formula to simplify a trigonometric equation, you can express the product of two sines in terms of the sum and difference of the angles. For example, if you have the equation $\sin(a)\sin(b) = \frac{1}{2}[\cos(a-b) - \cos(a+b)]$ , you can substitute $\sin(a)\sin(b)$ with $\frac{1}{2}[\cos(a-b) - \cos(a+b)]$ to simplify the equation.

Q: What are some tips for simplifying trigonometric equations?

A: Some tips for simplifying trigonometric equations include:

Use the Pythagorean Identity to express $\sin^2(x)$ and $\cos^2(x)$ in terms of each other
Use the Double Angle Formula to express $\sin(2x)$ in terms of $\sin(x)$ and $\cos(x)$
Use the Product-to-Sum Formula to express the product of two sines in terms of the sum and difference of the angles
Simplify the equation by combining like terms and eliminating any unnecessary variables

Q: How do I know when to use which trigonometric identity?

A: To determine which trigonometric identity to use, you should consider the form of the equation and the variables involved. For example, if you have an equation with a double angle, you may want to use the Double Angle Formula. If you have an equation with a product of two sines, you may want to use the Product-to-Sum Formula.

Q: Can I use trigonometric identities to simplify equations with other types of functions?

A: Yes, you can use trigonometric identities to simplify equations with other types of functions, such as cosine, tangent, and cotangent. However, you may need to use different identities and formulas to simplify these equations.

Q: Are there any other resources available for learning about simplifying trigonometric equations?

A: Yes, there are many resources available for learning about simplifying trigonometric equations, including:

Textbooks and online resources: There are many textbooks and online resources available that provide detailed explanations and examples of simplifying trigonometric equations.
Practice problems: Practice problems are an excellent way to learn and reinforce your understanding of simplifying trigonometric equations.
Online communities: Online communities, such as forums and social media groups, can provide a platform for asking questions and getting help from others who are also learning about simplifying trigonometric equations.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some frequently asked questions related to simplifying trigonometric equations. We discussed common trigonometric identities used to simplify equations, how to use these identities, and some tips for simplifying trigonometric equations. We also provided some additional resources for learning about simplifying trigonometric equations.