How do you prove 1 + sin² x = 1/sec² x?

1 Answer
Jul 5, 2015

The given equation is not true (except for values of x equal to integer multiples of pi).

Explanation:

sec(x) = 1/cos(x)

The maximum value of abs(cos(x)) is 1

rArr the minimum value of abs(sec(x)) is 1
and
the maximum value of 1/(sec^2(x)) is 1

sin^2(x) has a minimum value of 0
1+sin^2(x) has a minimum value of 1

The only time 1+sin^2(x) = 1/(sec^2(x))
is when
color(white)("XXXX")sec^2(x) = 1 and sin^2(x) = 1

These conditions are only true for x=0 and any other value of x=kpi (with kepsilonZZ).