# Math Help - limiting value of Cosine

1. ## limiting value of Cosine

Hi--

Please help me as to what value does $\cos(\theta) \times \cos(\theta/2) \times \cdots \times \cos(\theta/2^{n})$ approach as $n \to \infty$.

2. Hint:

Multiply (and divide) by $2sin\frac{\theta}{2}$ and use:

$sin2x=2sinxcosx$

3. I was solving an analysis problem and i need this quantity to have 1/2^{n} multiplied by some value. If this doesn't work out then my claim would be incorrect.

4. Originally Posted by Chandru1
Hi--

Please help me as to what value does $\cos(\theta) \times \cos(\theta/2) \times \cdots \times \cos(\theta/2^{n})$ approach as $n \to \infty$.
This infinite product is based on a famous infinite product first discovered by Euler:

$\sin (x) = 2 \sin \left(\frac{x}{2}\right) \cos \left(\frac{x}{2}\right)$

$= 2^2 \sin \left(\frac{x}{4}\right) \cos \left(\frac{x}{4}\right) \cos \left(\frac{x}{2}\right)$

$= 2^3 \sin \left(\frac{x}{8}\right) \cos \left(\frac{x}{8}\right) \cos \left(\frac{x}{4}\right) \cos \left(\frac{x}{2}\right)$

= ....

$= 2^n \sin \left(\frac{x}{2^n}\right) \cos \left(\frac{x}{2^n}\right) .... \cos \left(\frac{x}{2}\right)$

$= x \cdot \left[ \frac{ \sin \left(\frac{x}{2^n}\right) }{\frac{x}{2^n}} \right] \cos \left(\frac{x}{2}\right) \cos \left(\frac{x}{4}\right).... \cos \left(\frac{x}{2^n}\right)$.

Now take the limit $n \to \infty$:

$\sin (x) = x \cos \left(\frac{x}{2}\right) \cos \left(\frac{x}{4}\right).... \cos \left(\frac{x}{2^n}\right) ....$

I hope you can see what to do with this famous result.

5. ## thanks

Mr. Fantastic thanks for the fantastic answer.