Question

simplify (cos4x-cos2x)/(sin4x+sin2x) the answer choices are : cotx,
tanx,
cotxtanx, or
1

Answer 1

i believe it is none of the above.

Answer 2

think it is -tangent, let me check with pencil and paper

Answer 3

That's what Wolfram says...

Answer 4

The top is -Sin^2 2x so if we can get the cos on the bottom, we're done.

Answer 5

damn this must be complicated algebra day. you are going to have to rewrite all this in terms of sin(x) and cos(x)

Answer 6

Yeah, the bottom is a bit of a pain...

Answer 7

@estudier top is
\[\cos^2(2x)-\sin^2(2x)-\cos(2x)\] and i guess you have to reduce again yes?

Answer 8

Yes but Cos^2 2x is Co2 x -Sin^2x

Answer 9

i need more scrap paper

Answer 10

You really ought to be able to do something with the symmetry here...

Answer 11

I must be doin' something daft...

Answer 12

ok i give up. to much damned algebra for me.

Answer 13

I'll get there in the end...

Answer 14

cheat, graph the thing and see what you get

Answer 15

I'm pretty sure it's tan, it feels like tan, not so sure about the sign, though..

Answer 16

Think I will have to switch sin for -cos

Answer 17

Was finally able to find a common factor to reduce the sob.

Wolfram is right, it's -tanx.(it's definitely not 1)