If cos2θ−sin2θ=12\cos^2\theta - \sin^2\theta = \dfrac{1}{2}cos2θ, then
Factoring, cos4θ−sin4θ=(cos2θ−sin2θ)(cos2θ+sin2θ)\cos^4\theta-\sin^4\theta=(\cos^2\theta-\sin^2\theta)(\cos^2\theta+\sin^2\theta)cos4θ−sin4θ=(cos2θ−sin2θ)(cos2θ+sin2θ). Since cos2θ+sin2θ=1\cos^2\theta+\sin^2\theta=1cos2θ+sin2θ=1, this equals cos2θ−sin2θ=12\cos^2\theta-\sin^2\theta=\tfrac12cos2θ−sin2θ=2.