How do you prove #tan x - 1 = (sin^2 x - cos^2 x)/(sin x cos x + cos^2 x)#? Trigonometry Trigonometric Identities and Equations Proving Identities 1 Answer Nghi N. May 1, 2015 Numerator: #(sin^2 x - cos ^2 x) = (sin x - cos x)( sin x + cos x)# Denominator: #cos x (sin x + cos x)# #N/D = (sin x - cos x)/cos x = tan x - 1# Answer link Related questions What does it mean to prove a trigonometric identity? How do you prove #\csc \theta \times \tan \theta = \sec \theta#? How do you prove #(1-\cos^2 x)(1+\cot^2 x) = 1#? How do you show that #2 \sin x \cos x = \sin 2x#? is true for #(5pi)/6#? How do you prove that #sec xcot x = csc x#? How do you prove that #cos 2x(1 + tan 2x) = 1#? How do you prove that #(2sinx)/[secx(cos4x-sin4x)]=tan2x#? How do you verify the identity: #-cotx =(sin3x+sinx)/(cos3x-cosx)#? How do you prove that #(tanx+cosx)/(1+sinx)=secx#? How do you prove the identity #(sinx - cosx)/(sinx + cosx) = (2sin^2x-1)/(1+2sinxcosx)#? See all questions in Proving Identities Impact of this question 1275 views around the world You can reuse this answer Creative Commons License