Is there an easy way to prove the identity?\cos(\frac{\pi}{7})-\cos(\frac{2\pi}{7})+\cos(\frac{3\pi}{7})=\cos(\frac{\pi}{3})

oskrnavih92j

oskrnavih92j

Answered question

2022-02-28

Is there an easy way to prove the identity?
cos(π7)cos(2π7)+cos(3π7)=cos(π3)

Answer & Explanation

shotokan0758s

shotokan0758s

Beginner2022-03-01Added 8 answers

Let w=cos(2π7)+isin(2π7) so that w7=1. Thus
w71=0
(w1)(w6+w5+w4+w3+w2+w+1)=0
w6+w5+w4+w3+w2+w+1=0
(w3+w3)+(w2+w2)+(w+w1)=1
Since w+w1=cos(2π7+isin(2π7)+cos(2π7)+isin(2π7)=2cos(2π7), using de Moivre's theroem:
2cos(3×2π7)+2cos(2×2π7)+2cos(2π7)=1
cos(6π7)+cos(4π7)+cos(2π7)=12=cos(π3)
Using cos(θ)=cos(πθ):
cos(π7)cos(3π7)+cos(2π7)=cos(π3)
And hence
cos(π7)cos(2π7)+cos(3π7)=cos(π3)

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