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This is related to another question, in which one wants to rewrite a function of a single variable in terms of another function of that variable. Here I have a function of multiple variables. I want to rewrite the following complex trigonometric expression 

(-1 + 3 Cos[A]^2) (-1 + 3 Cos[a]^2) + Cos[B - b] Sin[2A] Sin[2a] +
  Cos[2(B - b)] Sin[A]^2 Sin[a]^2

in terms of the trigonometric expression

Cos[A] Cos[a] + Cos[B - b] Sin[A] Sin[a]

How can I do that in Mathematica?

New Developer
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  • Also related: https://mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/3822/can-i-simplify-an-expression-into-form-which-uses-my-own-definitions – yohbs Jun 12 '17 at 16:17
  • @yohbs I need to know that how can I use that method for multiple variables. – New Developer Jun 12 '17 at 16:39

1 Answers1

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Although there is not a unique solution to your question, one solution is obtained as follows.

(-1 + 3 Cos[A]^2) (-1 + 3 Cos[a]^2) + Cos[B - b] Sin[2 A] Sin[2 a] + 
    Cos[2 (B - b)] Sin[A]^2 Sin[a]^2

First, expand functions involving double angles.

% /. Sin[2 z_] -> 2 Sin[z] Cos[z] /. Cos[2 z_] -> 1 - 2 Cos[z]^2
(* (-1 + 3 Cos[a]^2) (-1 + 3 Cos[A]^2) + 4 Cos[a] Cos[A] Cos[b - B] Sin[a] Sin[A] + 
    (-1 + 2 Cos[b - B]^2) Sin[a]^2 Sin[A]^2 *)

Next designate the new variable as, for instance, x, and solve for Cos[b - B] as a function of x.

Flatten@Solve[Cos[A] Cos[a] + Cos[B - b] Sin[A] Sin[a] == x, Cos[B - b]]
(* {Cos[b - B] -> (x - Cos[a] Cos[A]) Csc[a] Csc[A]} *)

Finally, eliminate Cos[b - B] from the original expression.

Collect[%% /. %, x, FullSimplify]
(* 2 x^2 + 1/2 Cos[2 a] (1 + 3 Cos[2 A]) - Sin[A]^2 *)

as requested. Note, however, that a or A also could have been eliminated, although the resulting expression would have been much more complicated.

bbgodfrey
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