[Math] Prove trig identity: $\tan(x) + \cot(x) = \sec(x) \csc(x)$ wherever defined

solution-verificationtrigonometry

I appreciate the help.

My attempt:

$$
\begin{align}
\tan(x) + \cot(x) &= \frac{\sin(x)}{\cos(x)} + \frac{\cos(x)}{\sin(x)} \\
&= \frac{\sin^2(x)}{\cos(x) \sin(x)}+\frac{\cos^2(x)}{\cos(x) \sin(x)} \\
&= \frac{\sin^2(x)+\cos^2(x)}{\cos(x) \sin(x)}\\
&= \frac{1}{\cos(x) \sin(x)}\\
&= \frac{1}{\frac{1}{\sec(x)}\frac{1}{\csc(x)}}\\
&=\frac{1}{\frac{1}{\sec \csc}}\\
&=\frac{1}{1}\cdot \frac{\sec(x) \csc(x)}{1}\\
&= \sec(x) \csc(x)
\end{align}
$$

Best Answer

That is exactly correct! Just two things: First, $\tan,\sin,\cos,$ etc hold no meaning on their own, they need an argument. So just be sure to write $\tan x$, $\cos x$ etc rather than just $\tan$ or $\cos$.

Finally, you could save time on your proof by noticing on the fourth step that $$ \frac{1}{\cos x\sin x}=\frac{1}{\cos x}\frac{1}{\sin x}=\sec x \csc x $$

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