Special cases for sine and cosine sum

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    Cosine Sine Sum
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the special cases of the sine and cosine summation formulas for specific values of \(n\) (0, 1, and 2). Participants explore the derivations and expressions of these formulas, questioning their familiarity and significance.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants present the sine and cosine summation formulas and their evaluations for \(n = 0, 1, 2\).
  • For \(n = 0\), the cosine sum evaluates to 1 and the sine sum evaluates to 0.
  • For \(n = 1\), the cosine sum is expressed as \(\sin\theta\cot\frac{\theta}{2}\) and the sine sum simplifies to \(\sin\theta\).
  • For \(n = 2\), the cosine sum is given as \(\frac{\sin\left(\frac{3}{2}\theta\right)}{\sin \frac{ \theta}{2}}\cos\theta\) and the sine sum as \(\frac{\sin\left(\frac{3}{2}\theta\right)}{\sin \frac{ \theta}{2}}\sin\theta\).
  • Some participants suggest alternative expressions for the results, such as expressing the cosine sum for \(n=1\) as \(2\cos^{2}\frac{\theta}{2}\) and the sine sum for \(n=2\) as \(2\sin\left(\frac{3}{2}\theta\right)\cos \frac{ \theta}{2}\).
  • There is a question raised about the clarity of the initial reference to the "above two formulas," indicating potential confusion or missing context.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the significance or familiarity of the formulas presented. There is a mix of agreement on the mathematical evaluations, but some express confusion regarding the initial framing of the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the expressions for \(n=1\) and \(n=2\) can be simplified further, but there is no agreement on whether these simplifications are necessary or significant.

Dustinsfl
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State the special cases of the above two formulas for $n = 0, 1,$ and $2$.
These should be familiar formulas.

I don't see what is so special and familiar about when n = 2 or for cosine n = 1.When $n = 0$, we have
$$
\sum\limits_{k = 0}^0\cos k\theta = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)}{\sin\frac{\theta}{2}} = 1
$$
and
$$
\sum\limits_{k = 0}^0\sin k\theta = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{ \theta}{2}\right)}{\sin\frac{ \theta}{2}}\times 0 = 0.
$$
When $n = 1$, we have
$$
\sum\limits_{k = 0}^1\cos k\theta = \frac{\sin\theta}{\sin\frac{ \theta}{2}}\cos\frac{\theta}{2} = \sin\theta\cot\frac{\theta}{2}
$$
and
$$
\sum\limits_{k = 0}^1\sin k\theta = \frac{\sin\theta}{\sin\frac{\theta}{2}}\sin\frac{ \theta}{2} = \sin\theta.
$$
When $n = 2$, we have
$$
\sum\limits_{k = 0}^2\cos k\theta = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{3}{2}\theta\right)}{\sin \frac{ \theta}{2}}\cos\theta
$$
and
$$
\sum\limits_{k = 0}^2\sin k\theta = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{3}{2}\theta\right)}{\sin \frac{ \theta}{2}}\sin\theta.
$$
 
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dwsmith said:
State the special cases of the above two formulas for $n = 0, 1,$ and $2$.
These should be familiar formulas.

I don't see what is so special and familiar about when n = 2 or for cosine n = 1.When $n = 0$, we have
$$
\sum\limits_{k = 0}^0\cos k\theta = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)}{\sin\frac{\theta}{2}} = 1
$$
and
$$
\sum\limits_{k = 0}^0\sin k\theta = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{ \theta}{2}\right)}{\sin\frac{ \theta}{2}}\times 0 = 0.
$$
When $n = 1$, we have
$$
\sum\limits_{k = 0}^1\cos k\theta = \frac{\sin\theta}{\sin\frac{ \theta}{2}}\cos\frac{\theta}{2} = \sin\theta\cot\frac{\theta}{2}
$$
and
$$
\sum\limits_{k = 0}^1\sin k\theta = \frac{\sin\theta}{\sin\frac{\theta}{2}}\sin\frac{ \theta}{2} = \sin\theta.
$$
When $n = 2$, we have
$$
\sum\limits_{k = 0}^2\cos k\theta = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{3}{2}\theta\right)}{\sin \frac{ \theta}{2}}\cos\theta
$$
and
$$
\sum\limits_{k = 0}^2\sin k\theta = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{3}{2}\theta\right)}{\sin \frac{ \theta}{2}}\sin\theta.
$$

Hi dwsmith, :)

I don't understand what you meant by the "above two formulas". Is there anything missing here? :)

Kind Regards,
Sudharaka.
 
It was the formulas for cosine and sine.

$\sum\limits_{k = 0}^n\sin k\theta = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{n + 1}{2}\theta\right)}{\sin\frac{\theta}{2}}\sin\frac{n}{2}\theta$

and

$\sum\limits_{k = 0}^n\cos k\theta = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{n + 1}{2}\theta\right)}{\sin\frac{\theta}{2}}\cos\frac{n}{2}\theta$
 
dwsmith said:
It was the formulas for cosine and sine.

$\sum\limits_{k = 0}^n\sin k\theta = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{n + 1}{2}\theta\right)}{\sin\frac{\theta}{2}}\sin\frac{n}{2}\theta$

and

$\sum\limits_{k = 0}^n\cos k\theta = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{n + 1}{2}\theta\right)}{\sin\frac{\theta}{2}}\cos\frac{n}{2}\theta$

For \(n=1\) in the cosine summation you can express the result using only a cosine function as,

\[\sum\limits_{k = 0}^1\cos k\theta = \frac{\sin\theta}{\sin\frac{ \theta}{2}}\cos\frac{\theta}{2} = 2\cos^{2}\frac{\theta}{2}\]

Similarly for \(n=2\) in the sine summation,

\[\sum\limits_{k = 0}^2\sin k\theta = \frac{\sin\left(\frac{3}{2}\theta\right)}{\sin \frac{ \theta}{2}}\sin\theta=2\sin\left(\frac{3}{2}\theta\right)\cos \frac{ \theta}{2}\]

Apart from these minor simplifications, I don't see anything further that could be done to the results that you have obtained.

Kind Regards,
Sudharaka.
 

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