Spotting the Error: 0=4 in Math

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powerof
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I found this in my math book. It gives this supposed proof that 0=4 and asks where the error is. Note that this isn't homework. I found it at the end of the unit among other bonus problems to supposedly test ingenuity. Here it is:

[itex]sin^2 \theta + cos^2 \theta = 1 \Rightarrow cos \theta = \sqrt{1-sin^2 \theta}[/itex]​

Now we add 1 to both sides and then square them.

[itex]1 + cos \theta = 1 + \sqrt{1-sin^2 \theta}[/itex]

[itex](1 + cos \theta)^2 = (1 + \sqrt{1-sin^2 \theta})^2[/itex]​

Next we substitute theta with pi.
[itex](1 + cos \pi)^2 = (1 + \sqrt{1-sin^2 \pi})^2[/itex]​

Given that

[itex]cos \pi=-1[/itex]

[itex]sin \pi=0[/itex]​

it follows:

[itex](1-1)^2=(1+ \sqrt{1-0^2})^2[/itex]

[itex]0=2^2 \Rightarrow 0=4[/itex]​

So, what's the problem here?

Thanks for taking time to read this and hopefully solve it.

Have a nice day.
 
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powerof said:
[itex]sin^2 \theta + cos^2 \theta = 1 \Rightarrow cos \theta = \sqrt{1-sin^2 \theta}[/itex]​

I have a similar question in my book too, very fundamental error right in the first step.


For all real numbers x,

c372c85e83015d1494b8cdaac9125b12.png


Therefore,

[itex]\sqrt{cos^{2}(\theta)} = |cos(\theta)|[/itex]
 
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powerof said:
[itex]cos \theta = \sqrt{1-sin^2 \theta}[/itex][/INDENT]

This rule when stated usually implies that [tex]\theta\in \left[-\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{\pi}{2}\right][/tex] but it works for whenever [itex]\cos\theta \geq 0[/itex]

Remember that the general rule is [tex]\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1[/tex] and so if we re-arrange to solve for [itex]\cos\theta[/itex] we would get [tex]\cos^2\theta=1-\sin^2\theta[/tex] and at this point, if we're to take the square root of both sides, we need to keep in mind that there is also a negative square root value as well, mainly, [tex]\cos\theta=\pm \sqrt{1-\sin^2\theta}[/tex] where we take the positive value when [itex]\cos\theta >0[/itex] and the negative when [itex]\cos\theta <0[/itex].