To simplify this expression, we first expand and simplify the numeratorsin^2 72 - cos^2 72 = (sin 72)(sin 72) - (cos 72)(cos 72= sin^2 72 - cos^2 7= sin^2 72 - (1 - sin^2 72) [using the Pythagorean identity sin^2 x + cos^2 x = 1= 2sin^2 72 - 1
Therefore, the expression becomes= [2sin^2 72 - 1]/cos 144
Now, since sin (180 - x) = sin x, we have sin 144 = sin (180 - 36) = sin 3Also, cos (180 - x) = -cos x, we have cos 144 = -cos 36
So, the expression becomes= [2sin^2 72 - 1]/(-cos 36= [2(sin^2 72 - cos^2 72) - 1]/(-cos 36= [2(2sin^2 36 - 1) - 1]/(-cos 36= [4sin^2 36 - 2 - 1]/(-cos 36= [4(sin^2 36) - 3]/(-cos 36= [4(1 - cos^2 36) - 3]/(-cos 36= [4 - 4cos^2 36 - 3]/(-cos 36= [1 - 4cos^2 36]/(-cos 36= [1 - 4cos^2 36]/(-cos 36)
Therefore, the simplified expression is [1 - 4cos^2 36]/(-cos 36).
To simplify this expression, we first expand and simplify the numerator
sin^2 72 - cos^2 72 = (sin 72)(sin 72) - (cos 72)(cos 72
= sin^2 72 - cos^2 7
= sin^2 72 - (1 - sin^2 72) [using the Pythagorean identity sin^2 x + cos^2 x = 1
= 2sin^2 72 - 1
Therefore, the expression becomes
= [2sin^2 72 - 1]/cos 144
Now, since sin (180 - x) = sin x, we have sin 144 = sin (180 - 36) = sin 3
Also, cos (180 - x) = -cos x, we have cos 144 = -cos 36
So, the expression becomes
= [2sin^2 72 - 1]/(-cos 36
= [2(sin^2 72 - cos^2 72) - 1]/(-cos 36
= [2(2sin^2 36 - 1) - 1]/(-cos 36
= [4sin^2 36 - 2 - 1]/(-cos 36
= [4(sin^2 36) - 3]/(-cos 36
= [4(1 - cos^2 36) - 3]/(-cos 36
= [4 - 4cos^2 36 - 3]/(-cos 36
= [1 - 4cos^2 36]/(-cos 36
= [1 - 4cos^2 36]/(-cos 36)
Therefore, the simplified expression is [1 - 4cos^2 36]/(-cos 36).