Question

Trig help?

I know to multiply by the conjugate but what do I do next?

Answer 1

Then I multiplied the right by sin@ -1 and the left by sin@ +1

Answer 2

here, you should be looking for a common denominator -- you are trying to add fractions.

until you can do that, don't worry about what the term "conjugate" means.

Answer 3

I did the conjugate stuff to come up with a common denominator.

Sin^2 @ -1

@ is alpha since I don't wanna use LaTex

Answer 4

do you know what conjugate means? can you give me an example?

Answer 5

it's the opposite to make a negative like with (x^2-1)(x^2+3). Right?

Answer 6

Has to do with binomials

Answer 7

if your opening post is accurate, you have:

\(\dfrac{1}{\sin (\alpha) - 1} - \dfrac{1}{\sin ( \alpha) + 1} \)

is that what you are trying to do?

if so, it has nothing to do with most of the mathematical ideas you mention. it is a simple case of adding fractions, which means finding a Common Denominator for the fractions

Answer 8

Then why'd Mrs. Shoemaker say conjugate?

Answer 9

No idea who that is, I'm afraid!


You can proceed like this by using the underlying idea of the Common Denominator:

\(\dfrac{1}{\sin (\alpha) - 1} - \dfrac{1}{\sin ( \alpha) + 1} = \dfrac{\sin (\alpha) + 1}{\sin (\alpha) + 1} \cdot \dfrac{1}{\sin (\alpha) - 1} - \dfrac{\sin (\alpha) - 1}{\sin (\alpha) - 1} \cdot \dfrac{1}{\sin ( \alpha) + 1}\)

maybe this is what you want?

calling those "conjugates" is really stretching it. Stick to idea of how you can add fractions, IMHO !

Answer 10

like: \(\frac{1}{2} + \frac{3}{7}\)

what have "conjugates" got to do with that?!

you find a common denominator and add