82.5k views
3 votes
Prove the trigonometric identity: Cos(x-pi/3) + Sin(pi/6-x) = Cos(x).

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

To prove the trigonometric identity, we'll use the given hint: cos(90°) = sin(0°) and cos²(0) + sin²(0) = 1. Using the angle subtraction formula for cosine, we rewrite the left-hand side of the identity and then simplify to reach the right-hand side of the identity.

Step-by-step explanation:

To prove the trigonometric identity, we'll use the given hint: cos(90°) = sin(0°) and cos²(0) + sin²(0) = 1. Let's start with the left-hand side of the identity: cos(x - π/3) + sin(π/6 - x).

Using the angle subtraction formula for cosine: cos(a - b) = cos(a)cos(b) + sin(a)sin(b), we can rewrite the left-hand side as:

cos(x)cos(π/3) + sin(x)sin(π/6)

Since cos(π/3) = 1/2 and sin(π/6) = 1/2, we have:

(1/2)cos(x) + (1/2)sin(x)

Combine the two terms using the identity sin(a) + sin(b) = 2sin((a+b)/2)cos((a-b)/2):

2(1/2)sin((x + π/6)/2)cos((x - π/6)/2)

Now, simplify the terms inside the sin and cos functions:

sin((x + π/6)/2) = sin(x/2 + π/12) = sin(x/2)cos(π/12) + cos(x/2)sin(π/12)

cos((x - π/6)/2) = cos(x/2 - π/12) = cos(x/2)cos(π/12) - sin(x/2)sin(π/12)

Substitute these values back into the equation:

2(1/2)[sin(x/2)cos(π/12) + cos(x/2)sin(π/12)][cos(x/2)cos(π/12) - sin(x/2)sin(π/12)]

Expand the equation:

(sin(x/2)cos(π/12)cos(x/2) - sin(x/2)sin(π/12)sin(x/2)) + (cos(x/2)sin(π/12)cos(x/2) - cos(x/2)cos(π/12)sin(x/2))

Simplify the terms:

(1/2)sin²(x/2) + (1/2)cos²(x/2) = sin²(x/2) + cos²(x/2) = 1

The simplified equation is equal to the right-hand side of the identity, which is cos(x). Therefore, we have proven the trigonometric identity: cos(x - π/3) + sin(π/6 - x) = cos(x).

User Galimov Albert
by
7.8k points

No related questions found