Why is \(\displaystyle{{\cos}^{{2}}{\left({2}\frac{\pi}{{5}}\right)}}+{{\cos}^{{2}}{\left({4}\frac{\pi}{{5}}\right)}}=\frac{{3}}{{4}}\) ?

Damaris Huffman

Damaris Huffman

Answered question

2022-03-12

Why is cos2(2π5)+cos2(4π5)=34 ?

Answer & Explanation

Uriah Hale

Uriah Hale

Beginner2022-03-13Added 3 answers

Let ζ=eiθ. Then you have
cos2(2θ)+cos2(4θ)=14(e2θ+e2θ)2+14(e4θ+e4θ)2
or, recalling the definition of ζ,
14((ζ2+ζ2)2+((ζ4+ζ4)2)
Now, if you expand those out you get
14(ζ4+2+ζ4+ζ8+2+ζ8)
or, recalling that ζ5=1 this is
14(4+ζ4+ζ+ζ2+ζ3)
Rearranging gives
14(3+(1+ζ+ζ2+ζ3+ζ4))
and by de Moivre we have 1+ζ+ζ2+ζ3+ζ4, so this is just 34

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