Trig identity

1. Sep 11, 2008

banfill_89

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

prove that cos^4(x)= 3/8 +1/2(cos2x)+1/8(cos4x)

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

i attempted to change the cos2x to 2cos^2(x)-1.....then made all them over 8....and now im stuck......another question....if i multiply 2cos(4x) by 2, do i multiply the 2 and the 4x? or just he 4x?

2. Sep 11, 2008

Thorn

Well...Use the fact that cos^2(x) = (1 + cos(2x))/2 ...Then square both sides....you will then be pretty close...(that is..you will have cos^4(x) = some mess)..you will just need to use that above formula again to reduce the (cos^2(2x)) you get after squaring the right hand side of the equation........make sure you realize that when plugging (2x) into the left hand side...you will need to make the same plug in in the right...after that...the problem should unfold nicely... You just needed a different formula..

3. Sep 11, 2008

banfill_89

do i isolate the cos(2x) in cos^2(x) = (1 + cos(2x))/2 and sun that in?

4. Sep 11, 2008

Thorn

.. I don't know what you mean.. With this method...that is starting with the formula "cos^2(x) = (1 + cos(2x))/2", after squaring and showing that the left hand side is indeed Cos^4(x), your goal is to git rid of every square you have on the right hand side of that...and it turns out, there is only 1...so you use the formula again, but make sure you keep track of that doubled variable...

5. Sep 11, 2008

banfill_89

quick...and dumb question.....

i get 3+cos2x+2cos2x all over 8....which id close except the cos2x should be a cos4x

6. Sep 11, 2008

Thorn

Ha! Try again...Your are making mistakes in your arithmetic.. Just take it nice and slow... The above isn't as close as you might think...because not only should a cos2x be a 4x...but 2cos2x divided by 8...isnt 1/2cos2x....

7. Sep 11, 2008

banfill_89

lmao....il try it again slow

8. Sep 11, 2008

Thorn

ha...tell me what you get

9. Sep 11, 2008

banfill_89

ahhhh i got it lol...when i was working out the cos^2(2x), i wrote it originally as 1+cos2x over 2, instead of 1+cos4x over 2....is that right now?

10. Sep 11, 2008

Thorn

I told you to watch out for that 2x! ><