How do I show this equation is not an identity in paragraph form? sin α=square root 1-cos²α

1 Answer
Mar 23, 2018

Can't really do that, because this is a true statement

Explanation:

Using the identity:
#sin^2alpha+cos^2alpha=1#

Start:

#sinalpha= sqrt(1-cos^2alpha)#

#sinalpha= sqrt((sin^2alpha+cos^2alpha)-cos^2alpha)#

#sinalpha= sqrt(sin^2alphacancel(+cos^2alpha)cancel(-cos^2alpha))#

#sinalpha= sqrt(sin^2alpha)#

#sinalpha= sinalpha#