Final answer:
The trigonometric identity cos(3x) = cos^3(x) - 3sin^2(x)cos(x) is proven by expanding cos(3x) using angle addition formulas and trigonometric identities to arrive at the desired expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
To prove the trigonometric identity cos(3x) = cos^3(x) - 3sin^2(x)cos(x), we can use trigonometric identities and expand cos(3x) using the angle addition formula for cosine.
Starting from the angle addition formula:
cos(3x) = cos(2x + x)
Now expand using the angle addition identity cos(a + b) = cos(a)cos(b) - sin(a)sin(b):
cos(3x) = cos(2x)cos(x) - sin(2x)sin(x)
Expanding cos(2x) and sin(2x) using the double-angle formulas:
cos(2x) = cos^2(x) - sin^2(x)
sin(2x) = 2sin(x)cos(x)
Substitute back into the equation:
cos(3x) = (cos^2(x) - sin^2(x))cos(x) - (2sin(x)cos(x))sin(x)
Simplify the equation:
cos(3x) = cos^3(x) - sin^2(x)cos(x) - 2sin^2(x)cos(x)
Combine like terms:
cos(3x) = cos^3(x) - 3sin^2(x)cos(x)
Thus, we have shown that the identity holds true.