1. Dec 14, 2005

### Harleyd2900

My Pre-Cal teacher gave us this problem today. I have worked on it for a very long time and have goten no where . I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to do it, or even where to start. I started it myself with using the pythagorean idenities for the left side, then the difference of square; however after that I didn't know where to go.

cos²5x - cos²x = -sin4x x sin6x

Thanks a lot for your help,

Edit: (Damit... sorry I think I posted this in the wrong place)

Last edited: Dec 14, 2005
2. Dec 14, 2005

### JasonRox

Are you sure that's true?

It's kind of impossible. Because as x goes to infinity the left side remains contained in a small range, where as the right side blows up because you are multiplying by x.

3. Dec 14, 2005

### Tide

Jason,

I think that is a multiplication sign and not the variable x.

Harley,

HINT: Write the left side as

$$(\cos 5x - \cos x)(\cos 5x + \cos x)$$

4. Dec 14, 2005

### Harleyd2900

Good hint. I see the difference of squares. Should I factor out a cosx now?

BTW that x is a multiplication sign.... sorry about that.

Last edited: Dec 14, 2005
5. Dec 14, 2005

### Tide

No, you don't want to factor out a cos x.

Do you know any trig identities involving $\cos a - b$ and $\cos a + b$?

6. Dec 14, 2005

### Harleyd2900

Yes I know both of thoes. Thoes can be used on $$(\cos 5x - \cos x)(\cos 5x + \cos x)$$ ? Whouldn't a cosx have to be on the outside of the () in order to use it?

Last edited: Dec 14, 2005
7. Dec 14, 2005

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
cos(5x)= cos(4x+ x)= cos(4x)cos(x)- sin(4x)sin(x)

cos(4x)= cos(3x+ x)= cos(3x)cos(x)- sin(3x)sin(x) and
sin(4x)= sin(3x+ x)= sin(3x)cos(x)+ cos(3x)sin(x) so
cos(5x)= (cos(3x)cos(x)- sin(3x)sin(x))cos(x)- (sin(3x)cos(x)+ cos(3x)sin(x))sin(x)
= cos(3x)cos2(x)- sin(3x)sin(x)cos(x)- sin(3x)sin(x)cos(x)- cos(3x)sin2(x)= cos(3x)(cos2x- sin2(x))

etc.

8. Dec 14, 2005

### Harleyd2900

You lost me.

9. Dec 14, 2005

### Harleyd2900

Whould this bring me anyware:

cos²5x - cos²x = (-sin4x)(sin6x)
(1-sin^2(5x)) - (1-sin^2x) =

?

10. Dec 14, 2005

### JasonRox

It's basically the answer minus two-three steps.

I'd recommend to go through it all step-by-step. Write them all if you have to.

11. Dec 15, 2005

### VietDao29

Hmm,... have you learnt the following identities:
$$\cos \alpha + \cos \beta = 2 \cos \left( \frac{\alpha + \beta}{2} \right) \cos \left( \frac{\alpha - \beta}{2} \right)$$
$$\cos \alpha - \cos \beta = -2 \sin \left( \frac{\alpha + \beta}{2} \right) \sin \left( \frac{\alpha - \beta}{2} \right)$$
$$\sin \alpha + \sin \beta = 2 \sin \left( \frac{\alpha + \beta}{2} \right) \cos \left( \frac{\alpha - \beta}{2} \right)$$
$$\sin \alpha - \sin \beta = 2 \cos \left( \frac{\alpha + \beta}{2} \right) \sin \left( \frac{\alpha - \beta}{2} \right)$$?
---------------------
Back to your problem, we have:
$$\cos ^ 2 (5x) - \cos ^ 2 x = (\cos (5x) - \cos x)(\cos (5x) + \cos x)$$. Now with the 4 identities above, and the double-angle formulas, can you prove that $$\cos ^ 2 (5x) - \cos ^ 2 x = - \sin (4x) \sin (6x)$$?
Can you go from here?

Last edited: Dec 15, 2005
12. Aug 17, 2010

### martinbell

The key is to change the right hand side:

cos²5x - cos²x = -sin6x.sin4x

So cos²5x - cos²x = -sin(5x+x).sin(5x-x)

then expand and simplify the rhs.

The rest is:

- sin4x.sin6x = - (sin5x - x).(sin(5x + x)

= - [(sin5x.cosx - cos5x.sinx).(sin5x.cosx - cos5x.sinx)]

Tip #3, Difference of two squares

= - (sin²5x.cos²x - cos²5x.sin²x)

= - [(1 - cos²5x).cos²x - cos²5x.(1 - cos²x)]

= - [cos²x - cos²5x.cos²x - cos²5x + cos²5x.cos²x]

= - (cos²x - cos²5x)

= cos²5x - cos²x

= LHS

Q.E.D.

The tip numbers refer to trig proof tips in an article I have written,