We are told that a classmate is having trouble trying to verify a trigonometric identity. We are asked to write a question to help her. Let's begin by reviewing the suggestions for verifying identities.
Suggestions for Verifying Identities
Substitute one or more basic trigonometric identities to simplify the expression.
Factor or multiply as necessary. You may have to multiply both the numerator and the denominator by the same trigonometric expression.
Write each side of the identity in terms of sine and cosine only. Then simplify each side as much as possible.
The Properties of Equality do not apply to identities like with equations. Do not perform operations to the quantities on each side of an unverified identity.
By reviewing these suggestions we may find an appropriate question to help our classmate through her problem. We may think of using the third suggestion and write the following question.
Can you write each side of the identity
in terms of sine and cosine only?
Please note that this is just one of the many possible questions we might ask to help our classmate. We can get more question by looking at the other suggestions.
