Simplification of answer involving Cosine

  • Thread starter zack7
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    Cosine
In summary, the person is struggling to simplify a fraction involving trigonometric functions and is unsure how to proceed. The expert suggests using simple trig identities to simplify the expression.
  • #1
zack7
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0
I have manged to get my answer down to the first line in the picture but I have tried all ways and can't seem to simplify it to the second line.

Thank you
 

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  • #2
[itex]\cos(x\pi)=(-1)^x[/itex] if [itex]x\in\mathbb{Z}[/itex]
Does that help?
 
  • #3
What I don't get is how to I simplify from
[itex]\frac{-(cos(n*pi+pi)}{(n+1)}[/itex]+[itex]\frac{-(cos(n*pi-pi)}{(n-1)}[/itex]

to
[itex]\frac{(cos(n*pi)}{(n+1)}[/itex]-[itex]\frac{(cos(n*pi)}{(n-1)}[/itex]

to
[itex]\frac{-(2 cos(pi n)}{(n^2-1)}[/itex]
 
  • #4
You may be looking for something more complicated than necessary.
zack7 said:
What I don't get is how to I simplify from
[itex]\frac{-(cos(n*π+π)}{(n+1)}[/itex]+[itex]\frac{-(cos(n*π-π)}{(n-1)}[/itex]
to
[itex]\frac{(cos(n*π)}{(n+1)}[/itex]-[itex]\frac{(cos(n*π)}{(n-1)}[/itex]
How would you simplify cos(θ+π) and cos(θ-π)?
to
[itex]\frac{-(2 cos(π n)}{(n^2-1)}[/itex]
How would combine a/(n+1) - a/(n-1) into a single fraction?
 
  • #5
haruspex said:
You may be looking for something more complicated than necessary.

How would you simplify cos(θ+π) and cos(θ-π)?

How would combine a/(n+1) - a/(n-1) into a single fraction?

Yup got it, totally forgot the trig identity

cos(A+ B)= cos(A)cos(B)- sin(A)sin(B)

Thank you
 
  • #6
You do not actually need that identity for this, the rather simple identities [itex]\cos(\pi+\theta)=-\cos(\theta)[/itex] and [itex]\cos(\theta-\pi)=\cos(\pi-\theta)=-\cos(\theta)[/itex] are enough.
 

Related to Simplification of answer involving Cosine

1. What is the definition of cosine?

Cosine is a trigonometric function that represents the ratio of the adjacent side of a right triangle to the hypotenuse.

2. How can cosine be simplified?

Cosine can be simplified by using trigonometric identities, such as the Pythagorean identity, double angle identity, and half angle identity.

3. What is the range of values for cosine?

The range of values for cosine is between -1 and 1, inclusive.

4. How is cosine used in real-world applications?

Cosine is used in a variety of fields such as physics, engineering, and mathematics to model periodic phenomena, measure angles, and calculate distances.

5. What is the relationship between cosine and other trigonometric functions?

Cosine is related to other trigonometric functions such as sine and tangent through various trigonometric identities and can be expressed in terms of these functions.

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