cos^4 2(theta)

nathanralph

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Joined
Aug 27, 2005
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So I'm supposed to solve cos^4 2(theta) in terms of cosin with exponent 1. I have worked the problem out a few times with no luck. My steps are as follows:

cos^4 2(theta) = [cos^2 2(theta)]^2

= ([1+cos 4(theta)]/2)^2

= [1 + 2 cos 4(theta) + cos^2 4(theta)]/4

= 1/4 + 2/4 cos 4(theta) + 1/4 cos^2 4(theta)

= 1/4 + 1/2 cos 4(theta) + 1/4 [(1+ cos 8(theta)/2]

= 1/4 + 1/2 cos 4(theta) + 1/8 + 1/8 cos 8(theta)

= 3/8 + 1/2 cos 4(theta) + 1/8 cos 8(theta)

Sorry this is so long and tedious...just how it is solved. Am I calculating something wrong here? I've solved it several times with the same result, but am told I am incorrect.
 
Your working looks fine, impressive work. Substituting values for theta also shows you to be correct.
 
I thought it looked correct. That's why I can't figure out why the program insists that I am incorrect. Thought maybe I was missing something somewhere...
 
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