Difference between revisions of "1963 IMO Problems/Problem 5"

(Solution)
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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
 
{{solution}}
 
{{solution}}
 +
 +
 
We have S
 
We have S
 
= cos(π/7) - cos(2π/7) + cos(3π/7)
 
= cos(π/7) - cos(2π/7) + cos(3π/7)
 
= cos(π/7) + cos(3π/7) + cos(5π/7)
 
= cos(π/7) + cos(3π/7) + cos(5π/7)
  
Then, product-sum formulae, we have
+
Then, by product-sum formulae, we have
 
S * 2* sin(π/7) = sin(2π/7) + sin(4π/7) - sin(2π/7) + sin(6π/7) - sin(4π/7)
 
S * 2* sin(π/7) = sin(2π/7) + sin(4π/7) - sin(2π/7) + sin(6π/7) - sin(4π/7)
 
= sin(6π/7) = sin(π/7)
 
= sin(6π/7) = sin(π/7)
  
 
Thus S = 1/2
 
Thus S = 1/2
 
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
  
 
{{IMO box|year=1963|num-b=4|num-a=6}}
 
{{IMO box|year=1963|num-b=4|num-a=6}}

Revision as of 14:48, 24 November 2009

Problem

Prove that $\cos{\frac{\pi}{7}}-\cos{\frac{2\pi}{7}}+\cos{\frac{3\pi}{7}}=\frac{1}{2}$.

Solution

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We have S = cos(π/7) - cos(2π/7) + cos(3π/7) = cos(π/7) + cos(3π/7) + cos(5π/7)

Then, by product-sum formulae, we have S * 2* sin(π/7) = sin(2π/7) + sin(4π/7) - sin(2π/7) + sin(6π/7) - sin(4π/7) = sin(6π/7) = sin(π/7)

Thus S = 1/2

See Also

1963 IMO (Problems) • Resources
Preceded by
Problem 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 Followed by
Problem 6
All IMO Problems and Solutions