Prove the identity \(\frac{1 - \tan^2 x}{1 + \tan^2 x} \equiv 1 - 2 \sin^2 x\).
Solution
Let \(t = \tan x = \frac{\sin x}{\cos x}\). Then \(\tan^2 x = \frac{\sin^2 x}{\cos^2 x}\).
Substitute \(\tan^2 x\) into the identity:
\(\frac{1 - \frac{\sin^2 x}{\cos^2 x}}{1 + \frac{\sin^2 x}{\cos^2 x}}\)
Multiply numerator and denominator by \(\cos^2 x\):
\(\frac{\cos^2 x - \sin^2 x}{\cos^2 x + \sin^2 x}\)
Using the Pythagorean identity \(\cos^2 x + \sin^2 x = 1\), the expression simplifies to:
\(\cos^2 x - \sin^2 x\)
Using the identity \(\cos^2 x = 1 - \sin^2 x\), we have:
\((1 - \sin^2 x) - \sin^2 x = 1 - 2\sin^2 x\)
Thus, the identity is proven.
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