# 1981 AHSME Problems/Problem 24

(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

## Problem

If $\theta$ is a constant such that $0 < \theta < \pi$ and $x + \dfrac{1}{x} = 2\cos{\theta}$, then for each positive integer $n$, $x^n + \dfrac{1}{x^n}$ equals

$\textbf{(A)}\ 2\cos\theta\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 2^n\cos\theta\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 2\cos^n\theta\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 2\cos n\theta\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 2^n\cos^n\theta$

## Solution

Multiply both sides by $x$ and rearrange to $x^2-2x\cos(\theta)+1=0$. Using the quadratic equation, we can solve for $x$. After some simplifying:

$$x=\cos(\theta) + \sqrt{\cos^2(\theta)-1}$$ $$x=\cos(\theta) + \sqrt{(-1)(\sin^2(\theta))}$$ $$x=\cos(\theta) + i\sin(\theta)$$

Substituting this expression in to the desired $x^n + \dfrac{1}{x^n}$ gives:

$$(\cos(\theta) + i\sin(\theta))^n + (\cos(\theta) + i\sin(\theta))^{-n}$$

Using DeMoivre's Theorem:

$$=\cos(n\theta) + i\sin(n\theta) + \cos(-n\theta) + i\sin(-n\theta)$$

Because $\cos$ is even and $\sin$ is odd:

$$=\cos(n\theta) + i\sin(n\theta) + \cos(n\theta) - i\sin(n\theta)$$

$=\boxed{\textbf{2\cos(n\theta)}},$ (Error compiling LaTeX. ! Missing \$ inserted.)

which gives the answer $\boxed{\textbf{D}}.$

Invalid username
Login to AoPS