precalc problem help

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December 19th 2007, 07:34 AM
ohhhh

precalc problem help

show that cos 3(theta) = 4cos^3(theta)-3cos(theta)

where do i even start? :o
December 19th 2007, 07:42 AM
colby2152

Is this want you would like to prove?

$cos (3\theta) = 4cos^3(\theta)-3cos(\theta)$
December 19th 2007, 08:00 AM
ohhhh

yess... thanks for making it the way it should! :)
December 19th 2007, 08:09 AM
JaneBennet

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohhhh

show that cos 3(theta) = 4cos^3(theta)-3cos(theta)

where do i even start? :o

$\cos{3\theta}\ =\ \cos{(2\theta+\theta)}$

Now apply the formula $\cos{(A+B)}=\cos{A}\cos{B}-\sin{A}\sin{B}$ as well as the double-angle formula for sine and for cosine.
December 19th 2007, 08:29 AM
ohhhh

ok, so let me see.

cos (2a+a) = cos2(a)*cos(a) - sin2(a)*sin(a)
= cos^2a-sin^2a - 2sin(a)*cos(a)*sin(a)
= cos^2a-sin^2a - 2sin^2(a)*cos(a)

...is this right so far?
December 19th 2007, 08:50 AM
Krizalid

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohhhh

show that cos 3(theta) = 4cos^3(theta)-3cos(theta)

Complex numbers also work:

$\cos 3\theta = \text{Re} \left( {\cos \theta + i\sin \theta} \right)^3 = \text{Re} \left( {\cos ^3 \theta + 3i\sin \theta\cos ^2 \theta - 3\sin ^2 \theta\cos \theta - i\sin ^3 \theta} \right).$

So $\cos 3\theta = \cos ^3 \theta - 3\cos \theta(1 - \cos ^2 \theta) = 4\cos ^3 \theta - 3\cos \theta\,\blacksquare$
December 19th 2007, 05:26 PM
ohhhh

thanks a lot for your help guys. got it down! :)
December 19th 2007, 05:31 PM
badgerigar

Quote:

cos (2a+a) = cos2(a)*cos(a) - sin2(a)*sin(a)

right

Quote:

= cos^2a-sin^2a - 2sin(a)*cos(a)*sin(a)

You have lost a cos(a). It should read
$\cos (a)(\cos ^2(a)-\sin ^2(a))-2\sin (a) \cos (a) \sin (a)$

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