SOLUTION: simplify (cotx + cscx)(cotx - cscx) foiled and got cot^2x - csc^2x what do i do now

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Question 595403: simplify
(cotx + cscx)(cotx - cscx)
foiled and got

cot^2x - csc^2x
what do i do now

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You'll then use the identity

csc^2(x) - cot^2(x) = 1


But you first need to factor out a negative 1 to go from

cot^2x - csc^2x

to

-1(-cot^2x + csc^2x )


which rearranges to


-1(csc^2x-cot^2x)


Now use the identity listed at the top of the page to get

-1*1

-1


So the entire expression simplifies to -1