Reflection #1 - Unit Q: Verifying Trig Identities

1. Reflect on your learning this unit, specifically with concept 1 and 5.

Although this Unit made me pull my hair out, I did learn much more about trig functions! :)
  1. What does it actually mean to verify a trig identity?
Well, my dear, all it means is just that: to verify the answer. When verifying, you are given an "equation" that has two separate portions equal to each other. To "solve" we would have to prove how the problem on the left can equal what is on the other side. But there is one thing to always remember: never touch the right side! In other words we cannot do anything such as divide, multiply, square or square-root because those would have to apply to BOTH sides which we cannot do of course!
  2. What tips and tricks have you found helpful?
It is always better to right your identities on a flashcard and memoriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiize  all of them! This will cut the time of having to keep referring to the beginning of your packet and just make these stubborn trig functions easier in general. Also, practice-practice-and-more-practice! You might feel comfortable with a few problems but just remember that there are so many different ways an equation can be set up that we want to be as familiar as we can with any method.
  3. Explain your thought process and steps you take in verifying a trig function.
When verifying, i always want to see if i can change them all to functions of sin and cosine simply because they're easier to work with. If we are given fractions, most of the time it would be helpful to also separate in portions to cancel and/or substitute with better identities. Also remember that our main focus is to get the same answer as on the right without ever ever EVER E-V-E-R touching it! Just keep practicing and it'll come to you eventually.