Final answer:
To solve the equation cos 4θ - cos 2θ = sin θ, use trigonometric identities and properties. Rewrite the equation using double angle identities and the Pythagorean identity. Then, simplify the equation and solve for cos 4θ.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the equation cos 4θ - cos 2θ = sin θ, we can use trigonometric identities and properties. First, let's rewrite the equation using double angle identities and the Pythagorean identity. We know that cos 2θ = 1 - sin^2(θ).
Substituting this into our equation, we have cos 4θ - (1 - sin^2(2θ)) = sin θ. Expanding and simplifying, we get cos 4θ + sin^2(2θ) = 1 - sin θ.
Now, using the double angle formula, we can rewrite sin^2(2θ) as (1 - cos(4θ))/2. Substituting this into the equation, we have cos 4θ + (1 - cos(4θ))/2 = 1 - sin θ. Solving for cos 4θ and simplifying, we find cos 4θ = 1 - 2sin θ.