8-4 Relationships Among the Functions

I am going to simplify Tan^2x - Sec^2x; yes this is a relatively simple example on how to do this but it hits the basics.

First, recognize that there is nothing algebraically that can be done to those functions, so move on to step two.

1+Tan^2=Sec^2 is a Pythagorean Identity, so what you would do is make 1+Tan^2=Sec^2 look like Tan^2-Sec^2 and that is done using some algebra.

Once that is done you should have Tan^2x-Sec^2x = -1; have simplified the problem.

~Parrish Masters