1. What does it mean to verify a trig identity?
1. To verify a trig identity means you must prove that one side of the equations is true for the other side. so if one equation is equal to sinx then the other side must equal sinx. Remember that you cannot touch the right side of the equation!
2. What tips and tricks have you found helpful?
Memorizing the identities is extremely beneficial because you won't have to be looking at your notes and knowing them helps you solve them faster. This is helpful for the ones with multiple steps. Replacing some functions to sine or cosine is also helpful, as well. A GCF (greatest common factor), LCD (least common
denominator), multiplying by the conjugate, factoring , or substituting an
identity
3. Explain your thought process and steps you take in verifying a trig identity?
First I look for a GCF that I could factor out or FOIL. Then I see if substituting an identity could work. If a function is squared, then I'll
check if I can use a Pythagorean Identity. If the identity is a
fraction, I'll check to see if I'll either multiply the conjugate,
separate it into fractions if it has a monomial denominator, combine other fractions with a binomial denominator
with an LCD. As a last resort, I would convert everything to
sine and cosine to try to cancel everything out so that it is equal to
the other side.
