I dont understand how to determine when to solve trig equations using the identities or algebra. I always get confused on if i completely solved it using algebra or identities. I never know when its completely solved.... any help???
okay, well the best way i can explain what i think is correct is that you always start off with identities. Never start with algebra! Then when you know your identities and how to use them, you can switch back and forth between algebra and the identities until the problem is completely simplified.
pretty much, you summed it up. knowing you identities is a big factor. when you're given a trig equation, you first look at it to see if things are all in the same terms (sin,cos,tan.)(csc,sec,cot.) this is where your identities come into play. you use them to get everything in the same terms. you then use algebra to simplify, and finally check your identities to see if any of the trig properties work to solve.
If you have problems remembering the identities, its pretty simple. The best trick to remembering the cscx=(1/sinx), secx=(1/cosx), and cotx=(1/tanx) is that for csc and sec, the first letter will be different. This basically means that since csc starts with a c, then you would use 1/sinx and since sec starts with an s, you would use 1/cosx.
okay, well the best way i can explain what i think is correct is that you always start off with identities. Never start with algebra! Then when you know your identities and how to use them, you can switch back and forth between algebra and the identities until the problem is completely simplified.
ReplyDeletepretty much, you summed it up. knowing you identities is a big factor. when you're given a trig equation, you first look at it to see if things are all in the same terms (sin,cos,tan.)(csc,sec,cot.) this is where your identities come into play. you use them to get everything in the same terms. you then use algebra to simplify, and finally check your identities to see if any of the trig properties work to solve.
ReplyDeleteIf you have problems remembering the identities, its pretty simple. The best trick to remembering the cscx=(1/sinx), secx=(1/cosx), and cotx=(1/tanx) is that for csc and sec, the first letter will be different. This basically means that since csc starts with a c, then you would use 1/sinx and since sec starts with an s, you would use 1/cosx.
ReplyDelete