Homework Help: Calculus

Posted by dazed and confused on Monday, December 13, 2010 at 9:36pm.

dy/dx[tan(y)=x=y] in terms of y

the answer my teacher got was cot^2(y) but i get is 1/[sec^2(y)-1]

either i made a mistake, my teacher made a mistake or we're both right and i just need to simplify.

please tell me which of the following is the case and how to get to the correct answer.

Calculus - Reiny, Monday, December 13, 2010 at 10:32pm
let's see if cot^2 y = 1/(sec^2 y - 1 )

RS = 1/(1/cos^2y - 1)
= 1/((1 - cos^2y)/cos^2y)
= 1/((sin^2y/cos^2))
= cos^2y/sin^2y
= cot^2 y

so you are both right!
Calculus - dazed and confused, Monday, December 13, 2010 at 10:41pm
ok, thank you. is it preferable to change it like that? cause i honestly have no idea why it would matter.
Calculus - dazed and confused, Monday, December 13, 2010 at 10:44pm
oh and just to be clear you got this using trig identities right?

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