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how do you prove that sin^2 (x) + cos^2(x) = 1 ?
please give an example

2007-10-13 16:54:19 · 6 answers · asked by starz8 2 in Science & Mathematics Mathematics

6 answers

opp = opposite side

adj = adjacent side

hyp = hypotenuse
__________________

sin x = opp / hyp

cos x = adj / opp
_________________

Use Pythagorean Theorem

adj^2 + opp^2 = hyp^2

Divide by hyp^2

adj^2 / hyp^2 + opp^2 / hyp^2 = 1

adj / hyp = cos x

adj^2 / hyp^2 = cos^2 x

opp / hyp = sin x

opp^2 / hyp^2 = sin^2 x

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

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-13 16:58:28 · answer #1 · answered by UnknownD 6 · 0 0

The gist of the solution is what sine and cosine represent. Sine and Cosine represent the x and y coordinates of a unit circle (i.e. a circle with radius 1). A triangle generated by such coordinates yields a hypotenuse of 1, so that

sin^2(x) + cos^2(x) = 1^2

OR

sin^2(x) + cos^2(x) = 1

That's a bit of an informal proof right there.

2007-10-13 16:57:36 · answer #2 · answered by Puggy 7 · 1 0

Draw a right triangle and have legs a, b and Hypo c

sin x = a/c and cos x = b/c

so sin^2(x) + cos^2(x) = (a/c)^2 + (b/c)^2 = (a^2 + b^2)/c^2
= c^2/c^2 = 1

2007-10-13 17:00:12 · answer #3 · answered by norman 7 · 2 0

Start by noticing sinx = cos(x - pi/2). Start with that square plus cosx squared and use the cos(A+B) equations. It falls right out after that.

2007-10-13 17:00:42 · answer #4 · answered by Chase 3 · 0 0

cos(50)^2 = .413175

sin(50)^2 = .586824

.413175 + .586824 = .999999 (which is 1 considering I had or round the other decimals)

2007-10-13 16:58:34 · answer #5 · answered by Katie E 2 · 0 1

good question let me know when you workout the problem then again let me know the grade you make :)

2007-10-13 16:57:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

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