Proof cos(x+y) cos(x-y)= cos^2x + cos^2y - 1?

1 Answer
Mar 13, 2017

LHS=cos(x+y)cos(x-y)

=(cosxcosy-sinxsiny)(cosxcosy+sinxsiny)

=(cos^2xcos^2y-sin^2xsin^2y)

=(cos^2x(1-sin^2y)-(1-cos^2x)(sin^2y)

=cos^2x-cos^2xsin^2y-sin^2y+cos^2xsin^2y

=cos^2x-cancel(cos^2xsin^2y)-sin^2y+cancel(cos^2xsin^2y)

=cos^2x-(1-cos^2y)

=cos^2x+cos^2y-1=RHS

Proved