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The identity in question is
cos(a - b) = cos(a) cos(b) + sin(a) sin(b)
so that
cos(a - b) = 12/37 cos(a) + 3/5 sin(b)
Since both a and b lie in the first quadrant, both cos(a) and sin(b) will be positive. Then it follows from the Pythagorean identity,
cos²(x) + sin²(x) = 1,
that
cos(a) = √(1 - sin²(a)) = 4/5
and
sin(b) = √(1 - cos²(b)) = 35/37
So,
cos(a - b) = 12/37 • 4/5 + 3/5 • 35/37 = 153/185