Finding the Final Sum of Trigonometric Functions: Cosine and Sine Formulas

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the sums of trigonometric functions, specifically the finite sums of cosines and sines raised to the second power. The original poster presents a complex approach involving Euler's formula and seeks guidance on how to proceed with their calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the definitions of the sums and question the use of complex numbers in the calculations. There are discussions about the Pythagorean trigonometric identity and the geometric series, with some participants suggesting different methods to approach the problem.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with various participants offering insights and questioning the original poster's understanding of the concepts involved. Some guidance has been provided regarding the geometric series and the use of Euler's formula, but there is no clear consensus on the next steps.

Contextual Notes

Several participants note that the original poster may lack foundational knowledge about summing geometric series and the application of complex numbers in trigonometric contexts, which may hinder their progress in solving the problem.

  • #31
"It's wrong. Because exp(i*2*x) is NOT equal to cos^2(x)+i*sin^2(x)." What part of this don't you understand?
 
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  • #32
Yes it is not equal. How will we find the sums?
 
  • #33
Physicsissuef said:
Yes it is not equal. How will we find the sums?

By doing what you are doing but using what exp(2*i*x) does equal. Instead of what it doesn't. Duh.
 
  • #34
exp(2*i*x)=cos2x+isin2x ?

cos2x-cos2nx
-------------- is the geometric sum?
1-cos2x
 
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  • #35
Physicsissuef said:
exp(2*i*x)=cos2x+isin2x ?

cos2x-cos2nx
-------------- is the geometric sum?
1-cos2x

No. What happened to the imaginary part?
 
  • #36
But didn't we said that we need to find
the geometric sum cos2x+cos4x+...+cosnx ?
 
  • #37
Physicsissuef said:
But didn't we said that we need to find
the geometric sum cos2x+cos4x+...+cosnx ?

Yes. That's the real part of the sum. But that's NOT (cos(2x)-cos(2nx))/(1-cos(2x)).
 
  • #38
I don't understand what you mean. Can you explain how we should find the solution, starting from the beginning, please?
 
  • #39
Physicsissuef said:
I don't understand what you mean. Can you explain how we should find the solution, starting from the beginning, please?

No. I don't have unlimited time to waste on this. I don't notice that you bother to pay any detailed attention to what people tell you anyway. It's all in the previous posts. Go reread them. I'm not going to repeat myself again. I've already done enough of that.
 
  • #40
C=\frac{cos(n+1)xsin(nx)}{sinx}

D=\frac{sin(n+1)xsin(nx)}{sinx}

Why I was searching this for?
 
  • #41
What do those have to do with the problem? Are they supposed to mean something? What?
 
  • #42
Where I should go out of here:

\frac{e^2^i^x-e^i^2^n^x}{1-e^2^i^x} ?
 
  • #43
It should be n+1 power in the numerator. See your post #30. Now do the usual thing. Multiply numerator and denominator by the complex conjugate of the denominator.
 
  • #44
\frac{{e}^{2ix}-{e}^{i2(n+1)x}}{1-{e}^{2ix}} \circ \frac{1+{e}^{2ix}}{1+{e}^{2ix}}

Like this?
 
  • #45
Physicsissuef said:
\frac{{e}^{2ix}-{e}^{i2(n+1)x}}{1-{e}^{2ix}} \circ \frac{1+{e}^{2ix}}{1+{e}^{2ix}}

Like this?

No. The complex conjugate of 1-exp(2ix) is 1-exp(-2ix).
 
  • #46
<br /> \frac{{e}^{2ix}-{e}^{i2(n+1)x}}{1-{e}^{2ix}} \circ \frac{1-{e}^{-2ix}}{1-{e}^{-2ix}}<br />
How will I multiply all of this ? I have never learn to compute or multiply with Euler's formula.
 
  • #47
Physicsissuef said:
<br /> \frac{{e}^{2ix}-{e}^{i2(n+1)x}}{1-{e}^{2ix}} \circ \frac{1-{e}^{-2ix}}{1-{e}^{-2ix}}<br />
How will I multiply all of this ? I have never learn to compute or multiply with Euler's formula.

Oh, come on. There are just exponentials. Multiply them like you usually multiply exponentials.
 
  • #48
<br /> <br /> \frac{{e}^{2ix}-{e}^{i2(n+1)x}}{1-{e}^{2ix}} \circ \frac{1-{e}^{-2ix}}{1-{e}^{-2ix}}=\frac{{e}^{2ix}-{e}^{0}-{e}^{i2(n+1)x}+{e}^{i2nx}}{1-{e}^{-2ix}-{e}^{2ix}+{e}^{0}}

Like this?
 
  • #49
Yes. Now use deMoivre to get the real part.
 
  • #50
\frac{(cos2x+isin2x)-(cos2(n+1)x+isin2(n+1)x)-1}{2(1-cos2x)}

How will I solve this now?
 
  • #51
You are missing the exp(2inx) part. Now drop the imaginary parts. You just want the real part.
 
  • #52
Dick is about to earn the 2008 award for homework helper just for this thread! What patience! :-)
 
  • #53
DavidWhitbeck said:
Dick is about to earn the 2008 award for homework helper just for this thread! What patience! :-)

It's not over yet. If this is still going on in 2009 I can use it to claim the 2009 award as well.
 
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  • #54
\frac{cos2x+cos2nx-cos2(n+1)x-1}{2(1-cos2x)}+\frac{isin2x+isin2nx-isin2(n+1)x}{2(1-cos2x)}
I have no idea how will I solve this.
 
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  • #55
Now you dropped the (-1). You used to have it. Now just take the real part. You don't have to solve it. It IS the solution. It's the formula for the sum cos(2x)+cos(4x)+...+cos(2nx). How does this help you with the original problem?
 
  • #56
In my textbook results it is:

\frac{cos(n+1)xsin(nx)}{sinx}+i\frac{sin(n+1)xsin(nx)}{sinx}

I am wondering how did they found this results...
 
  • #57
Physicsissuef said:
In my textbook results it is:

\frac{cos(n+1)xsin(nx)}{sinx}+i\frac{sin(n+1)xsin(nx)}{sinx}

I am wondering how did they found this results...

They used trig identities. It's the same thing you have written in a different form. Let's try and solve the problem first and then worry about how to simplify it.
 
  • #58
I think I know how to solve it.
A=cos^2x+cos^22x+...+cos^2nx

B=sin^2x+sin^22x+...+sin^2nx

C=A+B

D=A-B

A=\frac{C+D}{2}

B=\frac{C-D}{2}

I found C

C=n

D is the real part of what we were doing now.

D=\frac{cos(n+1)xsin(nx)}{sinx}

With substitution:

A=\frac{n+\frac{cos(n+1)xsin(nx)}{sinx}}{2}

B is same just with opposite sign (instead of + it is -)

Am I right?
 
  • #59
DavidWhitbeck said:
Dick is about to earn the 2008 award for homework helper just for this thread! What patience! :-)

Does helping the exact same person on the exact same question with the exact same frustration level but in another forum count?
 
  • #60
Finally. Yes, that's how to finish it.
 

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