Proving: (sec^2-6*tan+7)/sec^2-5 = (tan-4)/tan+2

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The discussion revolves around the mathematical proof of the equation (sec^2 - 6tan + 7)/(sec^2 - 5) = (tan - 4)/(tan + 2). Participants express confusion over the notation and substitutions used, particularly the representation of tangent and secant functions. Suggestions are made to convert all secant functions to tangent functions using the identity 1 + tan^2(x) = sec^2(x) and to factor the resulting expressions. The importance of a solid foundation in algebra is emphasized, with recommendations for studying algebra to better understand the problem. Ultimately, a proof is provided, demonstrating that the left-hand side simplifies to the right-hand side through factoring.
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ok i have been working on this problem for a little bit and am stumped. i need to prove.
(sec^2-6*tan+7)/sec^2-5 = (tan-4)/tan+2

this is what i have done skipping a few steps
((1/u^2)-6*(v/u)+7)/(1-5u^2)/u^2

then (u-6u^3*vu^2*1-5u^3)/u^3 got this by finding a common denominator and flipping the bottom fraction. i missed quite a bit of class just trying to catch up but have no idea what i am doing
 
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duffman868 said:
ok i have been working on this problem for a little bit and am stumped. i need to prove.
(sec^2-6*tan+7)/sec^2-5 = (tan-4)/tan+2

this is what i have done skipping a few steps
((1/u^2)-6*(v/u)+7)/(1-5u^2)/u^2

then (u-6u^3*vu^2*1-5u^3)/u^3 got this by finding a common denominator and flipping the bottom fraction. i missed quite a bit of class just trying to catch up but have no idea what i am doing


Well firstly why are you making substitutions like that, there is absolutely no reason too and makes it incredibly unobvious when you use a trig identity if you do that. Second your notation is mostly gibberish to me, I have no clue what "tan-4) or "tan+2" are supposed to be.
 
that was the way i was taught.
sec= secant=1/u
tan= tangent=u/v

so tan-4 would be (u/v)- 2
 
duffman868 said:
ok i have been working on this problem for a little bit and am stumped. i need to prove.
(sec^2-6*tan+7)/sec^2-5 = (tan-4)/tan+2

this is what i have done skipping a few steps
((1/u^2)-6*(v/u)+7)/(1-5u^2)/u^2

then (u-6u^3*vu^2*1-5u^3)/u^3 got this by finding a common denominator and flipping the bottom fraction. i missed quite a bit of class just trying to catch up but have no idea what i am doing
As d_leet already said, tan + 4, tan - 2 really make no sense.
You should write tan(x) + 4, or tan(x) - 2 instead.
back to the problem, I hope you mean:
Prove:
\frac{\sec ^ 2 (x) - 6 \tan (x) + 7}{\sec ^ 2 (x) - 5} = \frac{\tan (x) - 4}{\tan (x) + 2}
Is that what you mean?
I'll give you a hint, try to change all secant function to tangent function. Do you know:
1 + \tan ^ 2 (x) = \sec ^ 2 (x)?
Then factor it, and shortly arrive at what you want to prove. :smile:
 
yes that is what i mean i will try that
 
duffman868 said:
that was the way i was taught.
sec= secant=1/u
tan= tangent=u/v

so tan-4 would be (u/v)- 2

That substitution is one of two things, either completely wrong, or very unusual, put everything in terms of sine and cosine, that might help better, and I still have no clue what "tan-4" means.

Because if secant is 1/u, thangent cannot be u/v it would be v/u assuming that v = sine and u = cosine.
 
duffman868 said:
that was the way i was taught.
sec= secant=1/u
tan= tangent=u/v

so tan-4 would be (u/v)- 2
Nooooo, you again forget the angle, the tangent, secant values of what angle? (x, y, t, k, \alpha, \ \beta, \ \gamma, \ \theta or what?)
------------
EDIT: Have you solved the problem? :smile:
 
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i relised that after i posted it is v/u also that is what i used in the first problem. and no i have not solved it yet i think not taking algebra 1 or 2 is hurting me now
 
ok i don't know if you can do this if so why did my answer come out flipped
1+ tan^2(x) -6 tan(x) +7/ 1+ tan^2(x) -5 to
tan^2(x) -5 tan(x) +7/ tan^2(x) -4 to
tan(x) -5 tan(x) +7/ tan(x) -4 to
tan(x) +2/ tan (x) -4
 
  • #10
1+ tan^2(x) -6 tan(x) +7/ 1+ tan^2(x) -5 this is what i get after changing them to tangents
i remember doing quadratic equation once but don't remember what they were and i thought i could factor but can't see it in this problem. got any links handy that can help with this problem

edit there was a post above mine
i think that by factoring you want me to see that 1 + tan^2(x) can be factored like a^2+b^2 but i can't remember if there are others that apply to this problem
 
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  • #11
duffman868 said:
1+ tan^2(x) -6 tan(x) +7/ 1+ tan^2(x) -5 this is what i get after changing them to tangents
i remember doing quadratic equation once but don't remember what they were and i thought i could factor but can't see it in this problem. got any links handy that can help with this problem

edit there was a post above mine
i think that by factoring you want me to see that 1 + tan^2(x) can be factored like a^2+b^2 but i can't remember if there are others that apply to this problem

Combine like terms and you should find that those expressions factor very nicely.
 
  • #12
duffman868 said:
1+ tan^2(x) -6 tan(x) +7/ 1+ tan^2(x) -5 this is what i get after changing them to tangents
i remember doing quadratic equation once but don't remember what they were and i thought i could factor but can't see it in this problem. got any links handy that can help with this problem

edit there was a post above mine
i relised that after i posted it is v/u also that is what i used in the first problem. and no i have not solved it yet i think not taking algebra 1 or 2 is hurting me now
Arrghh, you should take Algebra before taking pre-calculus! i.e, you should have some solid, and basic knowledge of algebra, or you'll not learn much in pre-calculus. You can either find some Algebra book and study it by yourself, or you can ask a tutor... (a tutor maybe better).
---------------------
You know what addition and multiplication are, right?
Commutative property of addition: a + b = b + a, ie two numbers add to the same thing whichever order you add them in.
Example:
2 + 3 = 5
3 + 2 = 5
Commutative property of multiplication: ab = ba
3 . 5 = 15
5 . 3 = 15
Associative property of addition: (a + b) + c = a + (b + c), ie, if you take a + b first, then add c, it's the same as you add b + c together first, and then add a.
Example:
(1 + 9) + 7 = 10 + 7 = 17
1 + (9 + 7) = 1 + 16 = 17.
Associative property of multiplication: (ab)c = a(bc).
Example:
(2 . 3) . 5 = 6 . 5 = 30
2 . (3 . 5) = 2 . 15 = 30
Distributive property of multiplication with respect to addition: a(b + c) = ab + ac
Example:
2 . (3 + 4) = 2 . 7 = 14
2 . 3 + 2 . 4 = 6 + 8 = 14
Additive inverse, or opposite, of a number n is the number which, when added to n, yields zero. We denote it to be: -n.
That means n + (-n) = 0
Example:
The additive inverse of 7 is −7, because 7 + (−7) = 0
The additive inverse of a is −a (definition).
The additive inverse of (ab) = -(ab).
Subtraction is the reverse of addition, to subtract b from a, we do as follow:
a - b = a + (-b), ie, we add a and the opposite number of b.
-----------------------
Say, you want to simplify the expression:
3x - 7y + 12x - 4y - 9y = 3x + (-7y) + 12x + (-4y) + (-9y)
= 3x + 12x + (-4y) + (-9y) + (-7y) (Associative property of addition)
= (3 + 12)x + ((-4) + (-9) + (-7))y = 15x + (-20)y = 15x - 20y.
Do the same, can you go from
\frac{\tan ^ 2 (x) + 1 - 6 \tan (x) + 7}{\sec ^ 2 (x) - 5} to \frac{\tan ^ 2 (x) - 6 \tan (x) + 8}{\tan ^ 2 (x) - 4}?
-----------------------
QUADRATIC EQUATION:
Look here for quadratic equations.
-----------------------
FACTORIZATION:
See here for some basic stuff about factorization.
-----------------------
Remember that, once we've factor both numerator and denominator, we can cancel out something that both numerator, and denominator have.
Example:
\frac{(x - 2) (3x + 5) (x + 7)}{(6x - 5) (x - 2) (x + 7)}
(x - 2) and (x + 7) are in both numerator, and denominator, cancelling them out, we have:
\frac{(x - 2) (3x + 5) (x + 7)}{(6x - 5) (x - 2) (x + 7)} = \frac{3x + 5}{6x - 5}
Can you do the problem now?
My last advice is: Go buying some book, and study Algebra, or hire some good tutor.
GET ALGEBRA BOOK! :smile:
 
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  • #13
ok i understand this what i don't is how tan(x)+2/tan(x)-4 = tan(x)-4/tan(x)+2
 
  • #14
No, they are not equal:
\frac{\tan x + 2}{\tan x - 4} \neq \frac{\tan x - 4}{\tan x + 2}
Since, it's quite a long time, and you may not have worked out the problem, I think I can post the solution.
Prove that:
\frac{\sec ^ 2 (x) - 6 \tan (x) + 7}{\sec ^ 2 (x) - 5} = \frac{\tan (x) - 4}{\tan (x) + 2}
---------
Proof:
We will now prove that the LHS of the equation is equal to the RHS. So we will start from the LHS:
\frac{\sec ^ 2 (x) - 6 \tan (x) + 7}{\sec ^ 2 (x) - 5} = \frac{\tan ^ 2 x + 1 - 6 \tan x + 7}{\tan ^ 2 x + 1 - 5} = \frac{\tan ^ 2 x - 6 \tan x + 8}{\tan ^ 2 x - 4}
We then factor both numerator and denominator:
\frac{(\tan x - 2) (\tan x - 4)}{(\tan x - 2) (\tan x + 2)} = \frac{\tan x - 4}{\tan x + 2} (Q.E.D)
---------
Can you understand this proof? And have you got an Algebra book yet? :)
 
  • #15
VietDao29 said:
Can you understand this proof? And have you got an Algebra book yet? :)
Oh man :cry:

We all have trouble sometimes :)

I have been working on a long homework assignment for the past 6 hours, I wish I had never taken thermodynamics
:cry: :cry:
 

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