Trigonometry

For students of class 11-12 (age 16+)
Nabil
Posts:1
Joined:Wed Aug 24, 2016 12:27 am
Trigonometry

Unread post by Nabil » Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:58 am

1. $x$ বাস্তব সংখ্যা হলে কোনটি বড়? $\sin(\cos x)$ নাকি $\cos(\sin x)$?

2. Prove that \[\tan\left(\frac{n+1}{2}a\right) =\frac{\sin a+\sin 2a+\ldots+\sin na}{\cos a+\cos 2a+\ldots+\cos na}\]
Last edited by Phlembac Adib Hasan on Sat Sep 24, 2016 11:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Latexed

User avatar
Phlembac Adib Hasan
Posts:1016
Joined:Tue Nov 22, 2011 7:49 pm
Location:127.0.0.1
Contact:

Re: Trigonometry

Unread post by Phlembac Adib Hasan » Sat Sep 24, 2016 12:35 pm

I remember the first problem from Neurone Onuronon. [Ah, nostalgia :") ] Anyway, here are your solutions:

1. Set $y=\sin x$. After some tedious calculations, it becomes apparent that $\cos y>\sin \left(\sqrt{1-y^2}\right)$. In other words, $\cos(\sin x) > \sin(\cos x)$.
[You can also show it by computing the derivatives of both functions. However, that would be, in my opinion, not 'ethical'.]

2. Do telescoping like this:
\[\sin ia+\sin(n+1-i)a=2\sin\left(\frac{n+1}{2}a\right)\cos\left(\frac{n+1-2i}2a\right)\]
Welcome to BdMO Online Forum. Check out Forum Guides & Rules

User avatar
Zawadx
Posts:90
Joined:Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:35 pm

Re: Trigonometry

Unread post by Zawadx » Sat Sep 24, 2016 7:08 pm

$\cos (\sin x)$ and $\sin(\cos x)$ are both continuous functions. So if one isn't always greater than the other, they must intersect at some value $k$ for which$ \cos(\sin k) = \sin(\cos k)$

$\sin x$ ranges from $-1$ to $+1$, so $\cos(\sin x)$ is always positive. So $\cos (\sin k) = \sin(\cos k) > 0$

Now for positive values of $\cos x$, $\cos x = \sin y \rightarrow x + y = \frac {\pi}{2} $

So, $ \cos k + \sin k = \frac {\pi}{2} $

But $\cos k + \sin k$ has a max value of $\sqrt{2}$. Thus no $k$ exists for which $\cos(\sin k) = \sin(\cos k)$.

Then plugging in any value of x and checking we can conclude that $\cos(\sin x) > \sin(\cos x)$ for all $x$.

Post Reply