Explore IDNLearn.com to discover insightful answers from experts and enthusiasts alike. Discover detailed answers to your questions with our extensive database of expert knowledge.

Simplify and prove the following trigonometric identity:

[tex]\[ \cos \theta \cos \left(60^{\circ}+\theta\right) \cos \left(60^{\circ}-\theta\right) = \frac{1}{4} \cos 3 \theta \][/tex]


Sagot :

To show the trigonometric identity:
[tex]\[ \cos \theta \cos \left(60^\circ + \theta \right) \cos \left(60^\circ - \theta \right) = \frac{1}{4} \cos 3\theta, \][/tex]

we can break it down step-by-step:

1. Left-Hand Side:
[tex]\[ \cos \theta \cos \left(60^\circ + \theta\right) \cos \left(60^\circ - \theta\right) \][/tex]

2. Right-Hand Side:
[tex]\[ \frac{1}{4} \cos 3\theta \][/tex]

We need to show that the left-hand side simplifies to the right-hand side.

### Simplifying the Left-Hand Side

First, we recall the cosine addition and subtraction formulas:
[tex]\[ \cos(60^\circ + \theta) = \cos 60^\circ \cos \theta - \sin 60^\circ \sin \theta \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \cos(60^\circ - \theta) = \cos 60^\circ \cos \theta + \sin 60^\circ \sin \theta \][/tex]

Given that:
[tex]\[ \cos 60^\circ = \frac{1}{2} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \sin 60^\circ = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \][/tex]

We substitute these into our expressions:
[tex]\[ \cos(60^\circ + \theta) = \frac{1}{2} \cos \theta - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \sin \theta \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \cos(60^\circ - \theta) = \frac{1}{2} \cos \theta + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \sin \theta \][/tex]

Next, we substitute these into the left-hand side expression:
[tex]\[ \cos \theta \left( \left( \frac{1}{2} \cos \theta - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \sin \theta \right) \times \left( \frac{1}{2} \cos \theta + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \sin \theta \right) \right) \][/tex]

Now, using the difference of squares identity [tex]\( (a - b)(a + b) = a^2 - b^2 \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ \left( \frac{1}{2} \cos \theta - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \sin \theta \right) \left( \frac{1}{2} \cos \theta + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \sin \theta \right) = \left( \frac{1}{2} \cos \theta \right)^2 - \left( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \sin \theta \right)^2 \][/tex]

Simplify inside the parenthesis:
[tex]\[ \left( \frac{1}{2} \cos \theta \right)^2 = \frac{1}{4} \cos^2 \theta \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \left( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \sin \theta \right)^2 = \frac{3}{4} \sin^2 \theta \][/tex]

Putting these back into the equation:
[tex]\[ \frac{1}{4} \cos^2 \theta - \frac{3}{4} \sin^2 \theta \][/tex]

Factor out [tex]\( \frac{1}{4} \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ \frac{1}{4} ( \cos^2 \theta - 3 \sin^2 \theta ) \][/tex]

Now, recall the triple angle formula for cosine:
[tex]\[ \cos 3 \theta = 4 \cos^3 \theta - 3 \cos \theta \][/tex]

For [tex]\( \cos^2 \theta - 3 \sin^2 \theta \)[/tex], we use the Pythagorean identity [tex]\( \sin^2 \theta = 1 - \cos^2 \theta \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ \cos^2 \theta - 3(1 - \cos^2 \theta) = \cos^2 \theta - 3 + 3 \cos^2 \theta = 4 \cos^2 \theta - 3 \][/tex]

Thus,
[tex]\[ \cos \theta \left( \frac{1}{4} (4 \cos^2 \theta - 3) \right) \][/tex]

Finally,
[tex]\[ \cos \theta \left( \cos 3 \theta \right) = \frac{1}{4} \cos 3 \theta \][/tex]

Thus, we have shown that:
[tex]\[ \cos \theta \cos \left(60^\circ+\theta\right) \cos \left(60^\circ-\theta\right) = \frac{1}{4} \cos 3 \theta \][/tex]

So, the left-hand side indeed simplifies to the right-hand side. This completes the proof of the identity.
We appreciate your contributions to this forum. Don't forget to check back for the latest answers. Keep asking, answering, and sharing useful information. Accurate answers are just a click away at IDNLearn.com. Thanks for stopping by, and come back for more reliable solutions.