Difference between revisions of "1996 USAMO Problems/Problem 1"

Line 1: Line 1:
'''Problem:'''
+
==Problem==
 
 
----
 
 
 
 
Prove that the average of the numbers <math> n\sin n^{\circ}\; (n = 2,4,6,\ldots,180) </math> is <math>\cot 1^\circ</math>.
 
Prove that the average of the numbers <math> n\sin n^{\circ}\; (n = 2,4,6,\ldots,180) </math> is <math>\cot 1^\circ</math>.
  
 
+
==Solution==
 
 
 
 
'''Solution:'''
 
----
 
 
First, as <math>180\sin{180^\circ}=0,</math> we omit that term. Now, we multiply by <math>\sin 1^\circ</math> to get, after using product to sum, <math>(\cos 1^\circ-\cos 3^\circ)+2(\cos 3^\circ-\cos5)+\cdots +89(\cos 177^\circ-\cos 179^\circ)</math>.  
 
First, as <math>180\sin{180^\circ}=0,</math> we omit that term. Now, we multiply by <math>\sin 1^\circ</math> to get, after using product to sum, <math>(\cos 1^\circ-\cos 3^\circ)+2(\cos 3^\circ-\cos5)+\cdots +89(\cos 177^\circ-\cos 179^\circ)</math>.  
 
This simplifies to <math>\cos 1^\circ+\cos 3^\circ +\cos 5^\circ+\cos 7^\circ+...+\cos 177^\circ-89\cos 179^\circ</math>. Since <math>\cos x=-\cos(180-x),</math> this simplifies to <math>90\cos 1^\circ</math>. We multiplied by <math>\sin 1^\circ</math> in the beginning, so we must divide by it now, and thus the sum is just <math>90\cot 1^\circ</math>, so the average is <math>\cot 1^\circ</math>, as desired.
 
This simplifies to <math>\cos 1^\circ+\cos 3^\circ +\cos 5^\circ+\cos 7^\circ+...+\cos 177^\circ-89\cos 179^\circ</math>. Since <math>\cos x=-\cos(180-x),</math> this simplifies to <math>90\cos 1^\circ</math>. We multiplied by <math>\sin 1^\circ</math> in the beginning, so we must divide by it now, and thus the sum is just <math>90\cot 1^\circ</math>, so the average is <math>\cot 1^\circ</math>, as desired.

Revision as of 21:52, 7 April 2014

Problem

Prove that the average of the numbers $n\sin n^{\circ}\; (n = 2,4,6,\ldots,180)$ is $\cot 1^\circ$.

Solution

First, as $180\sin{180^\circ}=0,$ we omit that term. Now, we multiply by $\sin 1^\circ$ to get, after using product to sum, $(\cos 1^\circ-\cos 3^\circ)+2(\cos 3^\circ-\cos5)+\cdots +89(\cos 177^\circ-\cos 179^\circ)$. This simplifies to $\cos 1^\circ+\cos 3^\circ +\cos 5^\circ+\cos 7^\circ+...+\cos 177^\circ-89\cos 179^\circ$. Since $\cos x=-\cos(180-x),$ this simplifies to $90\cos 1^\circ$. We multiplied by $\sin 1^\circ$ in the beginning, so we must divide by it now, and thus the sum is just $90\cot 1^\circ$, so the average is $\cot 1^\circ$, as desired.

$\Box$ The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png