Verify the Identity? Sinx / 1-cos^2x = cscx

1 Answer
Feb 23, 2018

To solve this, we need to use the Pythagorean Trig Identity.

Explanation:

The Pythagorean Identity states:

#cos^2x + sin^2x = 1#

We manipulate this to get either #cos^2x# or #sin^2x# by itself. For this problem, we want #sin^2x# by itself. To do this, we can simply subtract the #cos^2x# over to the other side, making it:

#sin^2x = 1-cos^2x#

Knowing this, we can verify the trigonometric equation. Since we now know that #1-cos^2x# equals #sin^2x#, we can substitute that in, giving us:

#sinx / sin^2x = cscx#

From here, we can do a simple cancellation of a #sinx# in the numerator and denominator, which leaves us with:

#1 / sinx = cscx#

And then:

#cscx = cscx#