Wednesday, July 27, 2016

trigonometry - Proof of an equality involving cosine sqrt2+sqrt2+cdots+sqrt2+sqrt2=2cos(pi/2n+1)




so I stumbled upon this equation/formula, and I have no idea how to prove it. I don't know how should I approach it:
2+2++2+A2 = 2cos(Aπ2n+1)



where nN and the square root sign appears n-times.



I thought about using sequences and limits, to express the LHS as a recurrence relation but I didn't get anywhere.




edit: Solved, thanks for your answers and comments.


Answer



Hint:



Use induction and the half-angle formula for cosine.



Solution:



For n=1, the claim is true, since cos(π/4)=2/2. By the half-angle formula 2cos(x/2)=2+2cos(x)

Therefore
2+2++2+2=2+2cos(π2n)=2cos(π2n+1)
where in the left square root expressions there are n square roots and in the first equality we have used the induction hypothesis that the claim holds for n1.


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