SOLUTION: What would be the best next step for verifying the trig identity? Expression with choices: https://s23.postimg.org/ae0mve0wr/best_next_step_5.png Thanks.

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Question 1063187: What would be the best next step for verifying the trig identity?
Expression with choices:
https://s23.postimg.org/ae0mve0wr/best_next_step_5.png
Thanks.

Found 2 solutions by Edwin McCravy, ikleyn:
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20060) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

The "C" answer is really silly because it goes backward to the given identity.
Notice that "C" is the same as the original given identity.

The "D" answer is wrong because it changes the left side cos²B-sin²B to -1. 
That's incorrect.  If the left side had been cos²B+sin²B or sin²B+cos²B that
could be changed to 1. Or if it had been -cos²B-sin²B it could have been changed
to -1.  The person who thinks "D" is correct is careless with signs.

The "A" answer makes the mistake of removing parentheses. When a parentheses is
preceded by a minus sign or a negative sign, all the terms inside must change
their signs.

The answer "B" is like answer "A" but it doesn't make the mistake that "A" makes.
So it's the correct choice.

Edwin

Answer by ikleyn(52824) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Hello,

I saw several assignments in this forum in last couple days offering to identify the wrong steps or the right steps
in some proves or logical/calculation steps.

My opinion is that such problems are not the best way to study/to teach the subject.

Much better way is to prove statements directly on your own or by reading the solutions/the proves from reliable sources.

It is much better than to trace turns/bends/ of somebody's curve/curved thoughts.

My personal opinion.


By the way, you have these three free of charge online textbooks in this site:

    - ALGEBRA-I - YOUR ONLINE TEXTBOOK

    - ALGEBRA-II - YOUR ONLINE TEXTBOOK

    - GEOMETRY - YOUR ONLINE TEXTBOOK