Question

How do you simplify `(sin theta - cos theta)^2`?

Answer 1

Let's multiply!

Explanation:

`(sin theta - costheta)(sin theta - costheta)`

`sin^2theta - costhetasintheta - costhetasintheta + cos^2theta`

Applying the pythagorean identity `sin^2theta + cos^2theta = 1`:'

`1 - 2costhetasintheta`