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Using the sum and difference of cosines formula, find the exact value of [tex]\(\cos \left(\frac{5\pi}{12}\right)\)[/tex].

[tex]\[
\cos \left(\frac{5\pi}{12}\right) = \boxed{\phantom{value}}
\][/tex]

Show your work and explain, in your own words, how you arrived at your answer.


Sagot :

To find the exact value of [tex]\(\cos \left(\frac{5\pi}{12}\right)\)[/tex] using the sum and difference of cosines formula, we follow these steps:

1. Express [tex]\(\frac{5\pi}{12}\)[/tex] as a sum or difference of angles with known cosine and sine values:
[tex]\[ \frac{5\pi}{12} = \frac{\pi}{4} - \frac{\pi}{6} \][/tex]

2. Recall the cosine difference identity:
[tex]\[ \cos(a - b) = \cos(a)\cos(b) + \sin(a)\sin(b) \][/tex]

In this case:
[tex]\[ a = \frac{\pi}{4} \quad \text{and} \quad b = \frac{\pi}{6} \][/tex]

3. Calculate the trigonometric values for [tex]\(a = \frac{\pi}{4}\)[/tex] and [tex]\(b = \frac{\pi}{6}\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ \cos\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \cos\left(\frac{\pi}{6}\right) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \sin\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \sin\left(\frac{\pi}{6}\right) = \frac{1}{2} \][/tex]

4. Substitute these values into the cosine difference identity:
[tex]\[ \cos\left(\frac{\pi}{4} - \frac{\pi}{6}\right) = \cos\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right) \cos\left(\frac{\pi}{6}\right) + \sin\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right) \sin\left(\frac{\pi}{6}\right) \][/tex]

So, substituting the values:
[tex]\[ \cos\left(\frac{5\pi}{12}\right) = \left(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\right) \left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right) + \left(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\right) \left(\frac{1}{2}\right) \][/tex]

5. Simplify the expression:
[tex]\[ \cos\left(\frac{5\pi}{12}\right) = \frac{\sqrt{2} \cdot \sqrt{3}}{4} + \frac{\sqrt{2} \cdot 1}{4} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \cos\left(\frac{5\pi}{12}\right) = \frac{\sqrt{6}}{4} + \frac{\sqrt{2}}{4} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \cos\left(\frac{5\pi}{12}\right) = \frac{\sqrt{6} + \sqrt{2}}{4} \][/tex]

Therefore, the exact value of [tex]\(\cos \left(\frac{5\pi}{12}\right)\)[/tex] is:
[tex]\[ \cos \left(\frac{5\pi}{12}\right) = \frac{\sqrt{6} + \sqrt{2}}{4} \][/tex]