1. cos^2 x - tan^2 x * sin^2 x
= cos^2 x - sin^4 x / cos^2 x
= (cos^4 x - sin^4 x) / cos^2 x
= (cos^2 x + sin^2 x)(cos^2 x - sin^2 x) / cos^2 x
=(1)(cos^2 x - sin^2 x) / cos^2 x
=1 - tan^2 x
2. Can it be solved?
3.2^cos x = ??? What does 2^cos x equal to? If this information is not known, the question is not an equation. It cannot be solved.