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Using the trigonometric identities I have to prove that:

$$ \sin(20^\circ)\cos(65^\circ)-\cos(20^\circ)\sin(65^\circ)=-\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} $$

I solved

$$ \sin(20^\circ)\cos(65^\circ) = \frac{\sin(-45^\circ)+\sin(85^\circ)}{2}$$

and

$$ -\cos(20^\circ)\sin(65^\circ)=\frac{\sin(45^\circ)+\sin(85^\circ)}{2} $$

How do I continue from here to prove that it is equal $-\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$

amWhy
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super95
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  • From where you are, you're almost done. Recall that $\sin$ is an odd function, so $\sin(-45)=-\sin(45)$, add the expressions together and you'll get the answer you're looking for (although you might have a sign backwards somewhere...) – Michael Burr May 08 '17 at 21:34
  • the trig functions are in degrees – super95 May 08 '17 at 21:35

3 Answers3

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Use fact that

$$ \sin(a - b) = \sin a\cos b - \sin b \cos a $$

$$\text{Therefore, }\, -\sin (65 - 20) = -\sin 65 \cos 20 + \sin 20 \cos 65 = -\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\right) $$

$$\text{That is },\, \sin 45 = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} $$

amWhy
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caverac
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Hint: Use the sine of differences:

$$\sin(a-b) = \sin(a)\cos(b) - \cos(a)\sin(b)$$

Using this you can show that the expression equals $\sin(-45^{\circ})$ by inspection.

John
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This answer seems to match the OP's original intent.

Using the product to sum formula: $$ \sin(a)\cos(b)=\frac{1}{2}(\sin(a+b)+\sin(a-b)), $$ it follows that \begin{align*} \sin(20)\cos(65)&=\frac{1}{2}(\sin(85)+\sin(-45))\\ \sin(65)\cos(20)&=\frac{1}{2}(\sin(85)+\sin(45)). \end{align*}

Then, $$ \sin(20)\cos(65)-\sin(65)\cos(20)=\frac{1}{2}(\sin(85)+\sin(-45))-\frac{1}{2}(\sin(85)+\sin(45)). $$ Since $\sin$ is an odd function, $\sin(-45)=-\sin(45)$. Therefore, the $\sin(85)$'s cancel and you're left with $$ \sin(20)\cos(65)-\sin(65)\cos(20)=-\sin(45). $$ By evaluating this directly, you have the value you're looking for.

Michael Burr
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