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I'm trying to solve for a certain set of trig identities in terms of other trig identities. I saw this and this, but in my example, I have two tries:

Solve[{al == Sin[b] Cos[a], am == Sin[b] Sin[a], an == Cos[b]}, Cos[b], {a, b}] 
Solve[{am == Sin[b] Sin[a], an == Cos[b]}, Cos[b], {a, b}]

In the first example, I get a null solution. In the second, Mathematica recognizes that the expression is just 'an'. Apparently I need to building the rule set up from scratch for solve to use, any suggestions here? The actual expressions I plan to use will be more complex, so it failing here isn't giving me much confidence... In the meantime, I'll be trying to generalize the Weierstrass approach.

Edit:

A fuller example might be:

Solve[{al == Sin[b] Cos[a], am == Sin[b] Sin[a], an == Cos[b]}, Sin[b] Cos[a] + Cos[b]^2, {a, b}]

Giving the result

al+an^2
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    $\begingroup$ Reduce[{al == Sin[b] Cos[a], am == Sin[b] Sin[a], an == Cos[b]}, {a, b}]? $\endgroup$ Commented May 3, 2022 at 22:54
  • $\begingroup$ I'm not understanding the 2nd argument in all of your examples for Solve. Why do you include Cos[b] and Sin[b] Cos[a] + Cos[b]^2 as the 2nd argument? $\endgroup$ Commented May 3, 2022 at 23:07
  • $\begingroup$ @JimB I'm referring to this example $\endgroup$ Commented May 3, 2022 at 23:10
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks. I see (now) what is done in that example. (I'm still looking for that format in the Solve documentation but don't see it. But that's my problem, not yours.) $\endgroup$ Commented May 3, 2022 at 23:22
  • $\begingroup$ The 3rd example doesn't work in v12.3 and v14.0, which version did you use? $\endgroup$ Commented Mar 12, 2024 at 7:51

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Generally you can not solve for a function of a variable (b in the first example) and at the same time try to eliminate that variable. Eliminate the other variables or functions of that.

Solutions to the first example

Solve[{al == Sin[b] Cos[a], am == Sin[b] Sin[a], an == Cos[b]}, Cos[b], {Sin[a], Sin[b], Cos[a]}]

Don't know why second example works, it should not.

Third example: give the expression you are looking for a name and solve for that, eliminating other functions.

Solve[{al == Sin[b] Cos[a], am == Sin[b] Sin[a], an == Cos[b], fin == Sin[b] Cos[a] + Cos[b]^2}, fin, {Sin[a], Cos[a], Sin[b], Cos[b]}] (* {{fin -> al + an^2}} *)
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