• Best of luck to the class of 2025 for their HSC exams. You got this!
    Let us know your thoughts on the HSC exams here

Trig. Help (1 Viewer)

bossleymaths

Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
45
Gender
Male
HSC
2009
prove that cos3x = 4cos^3 x - 3cosx

when i prove it i keep getting 4cos^3 x - 2cosx.... i cant get the three, this is what i have done

cos (2x + x)
cos 2x.cosx-sin2x.sinx
(2cos^2 x)(cosx) - (2sinxcosx)(sinx)
2cos^3 x - 2sin^2 x.cosx
2cos^3 x - 2(1-cos^2 x)(cosx)
2cos^3 x - 2cosx + 2cos^3 x
4cos^3 x -2 cosx
 

tommykins

i am number -e^i*pi
Joined
Feb 18, 2007
Messages
5,718
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
bossleymaths said:
prove that cos3x = 4cos^3 x - 3cosx

when i prove it i keep getting 4cos^3 x - 2cosx.... i cant get the three, this is what i have done

cos (2x + x)
cos 2x.cosx-sin2x.sinx
(2cos^2 x)(cosx) - (2sinxcosx)(sinx)
2cos^3 x - 2sin^2 x.cosx
2cos^3 x - 2(1-cos^2 x)(cosx)
2cos^3 x - 2cosx + 2cos^3 x
4cos^3 x -2 cosx
cos2x.cosx = cosx(cos^2x-[1-cos^2x]) = cosx(cos^2x - 1 + cos^2x) = cosx(2cos^3x-1) which is where your missing cos is
 

QuLiT

Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
84
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
waste of time. it's like a 4-5 line question demoires would require like 10
 

laa.musique

Executive Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2007
Messages
85
Gender
Female
HSC
2011
LHS = cos (2x + x)
cos 2x.cosx-sin2x.sinx
(2cos^2 x - 1)(cosx) - (2sinxcosx)(sinx)
2cos^3x -cosx -2sin^2xcosx
cosx(2cos^2x - 1 -2sin^2x)
cosx (2cos^2x - 1 - 2(1-cos^2x)
cosx(2cos^2x - 1 -2 + 2cos^2x)
cosx (4cos^2x -3)
= 4cos^3x - 3cosx


phew that was effort. but i hope it makes sense
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top