MHB Evaluating the Limit of an Infinite Product

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The discussion revolves around evaluating the limit of the infinite product defined as the limit as n approaches infinity of the product from k=3 to n of (1 - tan^4(π/2^k)). Participants share their solutions and insights, with one member expressing appreciation for another's neat approach. The mathematical challenge focuses on understanding the behavior of the tangent function as k increases, particularly in relation to the convergence of the product. The conversation highlights the importance of techniques in infinite products and limits in calculus. Ultimately, the evaluation of this limit is a key focus of the discussion.
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Evaluate $\displaystyle \lim_{{n}\to{\infty}} \prod_{k=3}^{n}\left(1-\tan^4\dfrac{\pi}{2^k}\right)$.
 
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Hint:

Think along the line of telescoping product...:)
 
My solution:
We begin by using the identity $\tan(x) = \frac{\sin(x)}{\cos(x)}$. Substituting and remembering that $1=\frac{\cos^4(x)}{\cos^4(x)}$, the product becomes
$$\prod_{k=3}^{\infty} \frac{\cos^4 \left ( \frac{\pi}{2^k} \right ) -\sin^4 \left ( \frac{\pi}{2^k} \right ) }{\cos^4 \left ( \frac{\pi}{2^k} \right ) }.$$
Factoring, recognizing that $\cos^2(x)+\sin^2(x)= 1$, and recognizing that $\cos^2(x)-\sin^2(x) = \cos(2x)$, we obtain
$$\prod_{k=3}^{\infty} \frac{\cos \left ( \frac{\pi}{2^{k-1}} \right ) }{\cos^4 \left ( \frac{\pi}{2^k} \right ) }.$$ Since $\prod ab = \prod a \prod b$, we can split $\cos^3$ out and leave behind a telescoping product. Multiplying this out, we find that all terms cancel except for $\cos \left (\frac{\pi}{4} \right ) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$. Now, using the fact that $\prod a^n = \left (\prod a \right )^n$, we obtain
$$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \left (\prod_{k=3}^{\infty} \cos \left (\frac{\pi}{2^k} \right ) \right )^{-3}.$$ Multiplying and dividing by 2 inside the cosine (and forgetting about $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ and the power of -3 for now), we have
$$\prod_{k=3}^{\infty} \cos \left ( \frac{\frac{\pi}{2}}{2^{k-1}} \right ).$$
Shifting the index by one, we get
$$\prod_{k=2}^{\infty} \cos \left ( \frac{\frac{\pi}{2}}{2^{k}} \right ).$$ The product is now almost in the form of Viete’s formula,
$$ \prod_{k=1}^{\infty} \cos \left (\frac{\theta}{2^k} \right ) = \frac{\sin \theta}{\theta}.$$
However, our index starts from k=2, and not k=1, so we must first divide by $\cos \left ( \frac{\theta}{2} \right )$ to obtain
$$\prod_{k=2}^{\infty} \cos \left ( \frac{\theta}{2^k} \right ) = \frac{\sin \theta}{\theta \cos \left ( \frac{\theta}{2} \right )}.$$ Now, using the formula with $\theta = \frac{\pi}{2},$ we obtain
$$\frac{\sin \left ( \frac{\pi}{2} \right )}{\frac{\pi}{2} \cos \left ( \frac{\pi}{4} \right )} = \frac{4}{\pi \sqrt{2}}.$$
Putting it all together,
$$ \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \left ( \frac{4}{\pi \sqrt{2}} \right )^{-3} = \frac{\pi^3}{32}.$$
 
Last edited:
jacobi said:
My solution:
We begin by using the identity $\tan(x) = \frac{\sin(x)}{\cos(x)}$. Substituting and remembering that $1=\frac{\cos^4(x)}{\cos^4(x)}$, the product becomes
$$\prod_{k=3}^{\infty} \frac{\cos^4 \left ( \frac{\pi}{2^k} \right ) -\sin^4 \left ( \frac{\pi}{2^k} \right ) }{\cos^4 \left ( \frac{\pi}{2^k} \right ) }.$$
Factoring, recognizing that $\cos^2(x)+\sin^2(x)= 1$, and recognizing that $\cos^2(x)-\sin^2(x) = \cos(2x)$, we obtain
$$\prod_{k=3}^{\infty} \frac{\cos \left ( \frac{\pi}{2^{k-1}} \right ) }{\cos^4 \left ( \frac{\pi}{2^k} \right ) }.$$ Since $\prod ab = \prod a \prod b$, we can split $\cos^3$ out and leave behind a telescoping product. Multiplying this out, we find that all terms cancel except for $\cos \left (\frac{\pi}{4} \right ) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$. Now, using the fact that $\prod a^n = \left (\prod a \right )^n$, we obtain
$$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \left (\prod_{k=3}^{\infty} \cos \left (\frac{\pi}{2^k} \right ) \right )^{-3}.$$ Multiplying and dividing by 2 inside the cosine (and forgetting about $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ and the power of -3 for now), we have
$$\prod_{k=3}^{\infty} \cos \left ( \frac{\frac{\pi}{2}}{2^{k-1}} \right ).$$
Shifting the index by one, we get
$$\prod_{k=2}^{\infty} \cos \left ( \frac{\frac{\pi}{2}}{2^{k}} \right ).$$ The product is now almost in the form of Viete’s formula,
$$ \prod_{k=1}^{\infty} \cos \left (\frac{\theta}{2^k} \right ) = \frac{\sin \theta}{\theta}.$$
However, our index starts from k=2, and not k=1, so we must first divide by $\cos \left ( \frac{\theta}{2} \right )$ to obtain
$$\prod_{k=2}^{\infty} \cos \left ( \frac{\theta}{2^k} \right ) = \frac{\sin \theta}{\theta \cos \left ( \frac{\theta}{2} \right )}.$$ Now, using the formula with $\theta = \frac{\pi}{2},$ we obtain
$$\frac{\sin \left ( \frac{\pi}{2} \right )}{\frac{\pi}{2} \cos \left ( \frac{\pi}{4} \right )} = \frac{4}{\pi \sqrt{2}}.$$
Putting it all together,
$$ \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \left ( \frac{4}{\pi \sqrt{2}} \right )^{-3} = \frac{\pi^3}{32}.$$

Hi jacobi,

Thanks for participating and also your so neat and great solution! :)
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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