{
"query": {
"display": "$$\\cos\\left(3θ\\right)=\\cos\\left(θ\\right)$$",
"symbolab_question": "EQUATION#\\cos(3θ)=\\cos(θ)"
},
"solution": {
"level": "PERFORMED",
"subject": "Trigonometry",
"topic": "Trig Equations",
"subTopic": "Trig Equations",
"default": "θ=πn,θ=\\frac{π}{2}+πn",
"degrees": "θ=0^{\\circ }+180^{\\circ }n,θ=90^{\\circ }+180^{\\circ }n",
"meta": {
"showVerify": true
}
},
"steps": {
"type": "interim",
"title": "$$\\cos\\left(3θ\\right)=\\cos\\left(θ\\right){\\quad:\\quad}θ=πn,\\:θ=\\frac{π}{2}+πn$$",
"input": "\\cos\\left(3θ\\right)=\\cos\\left(θ\\right)",
"steps": [
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "Subtract $$\\cos\\left(θ\\right)$$ from both sides",
"result": "\\cos\\left(3θ\\right)-\\cos\\left(θ\\right)=0"
},
{
"type": "interim",
"title": "Rewrite using trig identities",
"input": "\\cos\\left(3θ\\right)-\\cos\\left(θ\\right)",
"result": "-2\\sin\\left(2θ\\right)\\sin\\left(θ\\right)=0",
"steps": [
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "Use the Sum to Product identity: $$\\cos\\left(s\\right)-\\cos\\left(t\\right)=-2\\sin\\left(\\frac{s+t}{2}\\right)\\sin\\left(\\frac{s-t}{2}\\right)$$",
"result": "=-2\\sin\\left(\\frac{3θ+θ}{2}\\right)\\sin\\left(\\frac{3θ-θ}{2}\\right)"
},
{
"type": "interim",
"title": "Simplify $$-2\\sin\\left(\\frac{3θ+θ}{2}\\right)\\sin\\left(\\frac{3θ-θ}{2}\\right):{\\quad}-2\\sin\\left(2θ\\right)\\sin\\left(θ\\right)$$",
"input": "-2\\sin\\left(\\frac{3θ+θ}{2}\\right)\\sin\\left(\\frac{3θ-θ}{2}\\right)",
"result": "=-2\\sin\\left(2θ\\right)\\sin\\left(θ\\right)",
"steps": [
{
"type": "interim",
"title": "$$\\frac{3θ+θ}{2}=2θ$$",
"input": "\\frac{3θ+θ}{2}",
"steps": [
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "Add similar elements: $$3θ+θ=4θ$$",
"result": "=\\frac{4θ}{2}"
},
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "Divide the numbers: $$\\frac{4}{2}=2$$",
"result": "=2θ"
}
],
"meta": {
"solvingClass": "Solver",
"interimType": "Solver",
"gptData": "pG0PljGlka7rWtIVHz2xymbOTBTIQkBEGSNjyYYsjjDErT97kX84sZPuiUzCW6s79Ksg9eVsC9Fv5hGIDGXtrCdVBn2NNCFZqg4ZoVh6UwqjkVi15I8rBefLi4Iyt2wrGZHczU7dFYY134V2zeCegNLskHR1XdSSKSdbUSUwWGETerXnP+DkqGqSGcqrZnhB"
}
},
{
"type": "step",
"result": "=-2\\sin\\left(2θ\\right)\\sin\\left(\\frac{3θ-θ}{2}\\right)"
},
{
"type": "interim",
"title": "$$\\frac{3θ-θ}{2}=θ$$",
"input": "\\frac{3θ-θ}{2}",
"steps": [
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "Add similar elements: $$3θ-θ=2θ$$",
"result": "=\\frac{2θ}{2}"
},
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "Divide the numbers: $$\\frac{2}{2}=1$$",
"result": "=θ"
}
],
"meta": {
"solvingClass": "Solver",
"interimType": "Solver",
"gptData": "pG0PljGlka7rWtIVHz2xymbOTBTIQkBEGSNjyYYsjjDErT97kX84sZPuiUzCW6s78dJk74FDXkIq5rb3uAuenCdVBn2NNCFZqg4ZoVh6UwqjkVi15I8rBefLi4Iyt2wrZoPzxmrP7+4TMbrYjqofDI9Khv5Wmbz4sf9UMSx6ItQaPAx5KP2rVBoLjqshJFw7"
}
},
{
"type": "step",
"result": "=-2\\sin\\left(2θ\\right)\\sin\\left(θ\\right)"
}
],
"meta": {
"solvingClass": "Solver",
"interimType": "Generic Simplify Specific 1Eq",
"gptData": "pG0PljGlka7rWtIVHz2xymbOTBTIQkBEGSNjyYYsjjDErT97kX84sZPuiUzCW6s7WKQDtlNbtfOFijcUoWrkOqray957j+3C/M/hxU1pYxgPt06UMl/6THlVu8y6N9KDIGio76cBq3IcP4gORIfTNszBWJotReR4P4m6RE6FZ2P8hVcYdpEZlK2VxDJSKy5HjEcYkEcIp9OcwOnklM0L0R429vuTSxWa7B/X3D1oP03wgIWhXhtwOYmcDmqyesWQf2jblA0VOzn3rABfI+zPDvHIl82AKAiO3wI0fFiLBK4TRBs03ziTVjAdYS9MG+cr"
}
}
],
"meta": {
"interimType": "Trig Rewrite Using Trig identities 0Eq",
"gptData": "pG0PljGlka7rWtIVHz2xymbOTBTIQkBEGSNjyYYsjjDErT97kX84sZPuiUzCW6s7lRPp6QndqgNT+L6IZutAbN5hwUnUmJybCjyUuA3KPlz1fWutlCU4zUzgkFchUVlKOeWgsE4Mk40prEDZkKQ8Xcq64+b8YguXf4qCtKW9b7ISFoL1Efx+E4fKUQsJTWquBYEidskR/oS/CmglpmWIBO7nGBp/aiM+wK6HvcGlBOx2WVG1dxuhtwcvc5+As2ToKO+d89V0ksUsI4xf7WSo4wJYYPwif7On5mZsZiNIHrw="
}
},
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "Solving each part separately",
"result": "\\sin\\left(2θ\\right)=0\\lor\\:\\sin\\left(θ\\right)=0"
},
{
"type": "interim",
"title": "$$\\sin\\left(2θ\\right)=0{\\quad:\\quad}θ=πn,\\:θ=\\frac{π}{2}+πn$$",
"input": "\\sin\\left(2θ\\right)=0",
"steps": [
{
"type": "interim",
"title": "General solutions for $$\\sin\\left(2θ\\right)=0$$",
"result": "2θ=0+2πn,\\:2θ=π+2πn",
"steps": [
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "$$\\sin\\left(x\\right)$$ periodicity table with $$2πn$$ cycle:<br/>$$\\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|}\\hline x&\\sin(x)&x&\\sin(x)\\\\\\hline 0&0&π&0\\\\\\hline \\frac{π}{6}&\\frac{1}{2}&\\frac{7π}{6}&-\\frac{1}{2}\\\\\\hline \\frac{π}{4}&\\frac{\\sqrt{2}}{2}&\\frac{5π}{4}&-\\frac{\\sqrt{2}}{2}\\\\\\hline \\frac{π}{3}&\\frac{\\sqrt{3}}{2}&\\frac{4π}{3}&-\\frac{\\sqrt{3}}{2}\\\\\\hline \\frac{π}{2}&1&\\frac{3π}{2}&-1\\\\\\hline \\frac{2π}{3}&\\frac{\\sqrt{3}}{2}&\\frac{5π}{3}&-\\frac{\\sqrt{3}}{2}\\\\\\hline \\frac{3π}{4}&\\frac{\\sqrt{2}}{2}&\\frac{7π}{4}&-\\frac{\\sqrt{2}}{2}\\\\\\hline \\frac{5π}{6}&\\frac{1}{2}&\\frac{11π}{6}&-\\frac{1}{2}\\\\\\hline \\end{array}$$"
},
{
"type": "step",
"result": "2θ=0+2πn,\\:2θ=π+2πn"
}
],
"meta": {
"interimType": "Trig General Solutions sin 1Eq"
}
},
{
"type": "interim",
"title": "Solve $$2θ=0+2πn:{\\quad}θ=πn$$",
"input": "2θ=0+2πn",
"steps": [
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "$$0+2πn=2πn$$",
"result": "2θ=2πn"
},
{
"type": "interim",
"title": "Divide both sides by $$2$$",
"input": "2θ=2πn",
"result": "θ=πn",
"steps": [
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "Divide both sides by $$2$$",
"result": "\\frac{2θ}{2}=\\frac{2πn}{2}"
},
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "Simplify",
"result": "θ=πn"
}
],
"meta": {
"interimType": "Divide Both Sides Specific 1Eq",
"gptData": "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"
}
}
],
"meta": {
"solvingClass": "Equations",
"interimType": "Generic Solve Title 1Eq"
}
},
{
"type": "interim",
"title": "Solve $$2θ=π+2πn:{\\quad}θ=\\frac{π}{2}+πn$$",
"input": "2θ=π+2πn",
"steps": [
{
"type": "interim",
"title": "Divide both sides by $$2$$",
"input": "2θ=π+2πn",
"result": "θ=\\frac{π}{2}+πn",
"steps": [
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "Divide both sides by $$2$$",
"result": "\\frac{2θ}{2}=\\frac{π}{2}+\\frac{2πn}{2}"
},
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "Simplify",
"result": "θ=\\frac{π}{2}+πn"
}
],
"meta": {
"interimType": "Divide Both Sides Specific 1Eq",
"gptData": "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"
}
}
],
"meta": {
"solvingClass": "Equations",
"interimType": "Generic Solve Title 1Eq"
}
},
{
"type": "step",
"result": "θ=πn,\\:θ=\\frac{π}{2}+πn"
}
],
"meta": {
"solvingClass": "Trig Equations",
"interimType": "Trig Equations"
}
},
{
"type": "interim",
"title": "$$\\sin\\left(θ\\right)=0{\\quad:\\quad}θ=2πn,\\:θ=π+2πn$$",
"input": "\\sin\\left(θ\\right)=0",
"steps": [
{
"type": "interim",
"title": "General solutions for $$\\sin\\left(θ\\right)=0$$",
"result": "θ=0+2πn,\\:θ=π+2πn",
"steps": [
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "$$\\sin\\left(x\\right)$$ periodicity table with $$2πn$$ cycle:<br/>$$\\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|}\\hline x&\\sin(x)&x&\\sin(x)\\\\\\hline 0&0&π&0\\\\\\hline \\frac{π}{6}&\\frac{1}{2}&\\frac{7π}{6}&-\\frac{1}{2}\\\\\\hline \\frac{π}{4}&\\frac{\\sqrt{2}}{2}&\\frac{5π}{4}&-\\frac{\\sqrt{2}}{2}\\\\\\hline \\frac{π}{3}&\\frac{\\sqrt{3}}{2}&\\frac{4π}{3}&-\\frac{\\sqrt{3}}{2}\\\\\\hline \\frac{π}{2}&1&\\frac{3π}{2}&-1\\\\\\hline \\frac{2π}{3}&\\frac{\\sqrt{3}}{2}&\\frac{5π}{3}&-\\frac{\\sqrt{3}}{2}\\\\\\hline \\frac{3π}{4}&\\frac{\\sqrt{2}}{2}&\\frac{7π}{4}&-\\frac{\\sqrt{2}}{2}\\\\\\hline \\frac{5π}{6}&\\frac{1}{2}&\\frac{11π}{6}&-\\frac{1}{2}\\\\\\hline \\end{array}$$"
},
{
"type": "step",
"result": "θ=0+2πn,\\:θ=π+2πn"
}
],
"meta": {
"interimType": "Trig General Solutions sin 1Eq"
}
},
{
"type": "interim",
"title": "Solve $$θ=0+2πn:{\\quad}θ=2πn$$",
"input": "θ=0+2πn",
"steps": [
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "$$0+2πn=2πn$$",
"result": "θ=2πn"
}
],
"meta": {
"solvingClass": "Equations",
"interimType": "Generic Solve Title 1Eq"
}
},
{
"type": "step",
"result": "θ=2πn,\\:θ=π+2πn"
}
],
"meta": {
"solvingClass": "Trig Equations",
"interimType": "Trig Equations"
}
},
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "Combine all the solutions",
"result": "θ=πn,\\:θ=\\frac{π}{2}+πn,\\:θ=2πn,\\:θ=π+2πn"
},
{
"type": "step",
"primary": "Merge Overlapping Intervals",
"result": "θ=πn,\\:θ=\\frac{π}{2}+πn"
}
],
"meta": {
"solvingClass": "Trig Equations",
"practiceLink": "/practice/trigonometry-practice#area=main&subtopic=Trig%20Equations",
"practiceTopic": "Trig Equations"
}
},
"plot_output": {
"meta": {
"plotInfo": {
"variable": "θ",
"plotRequest": "\\cos(3θ)-\\cos(θ)"
},
"showViewLarger": true
}
},
"meta": {
"showVerify": true
}
}
Solution
Solution
+1
Degrees
Solution steps
Subtract from both sides
Rewrite using trig identities
Use the Sum to Product identity:
Simplify
Add similar elements:
Divide the numbers:
Add similar elements:
Divide the numbers:
Solving each part separately
General solutions for
periodicity table with cycle:
Solve
Divide both sides by
Divide both sides by
Simplify
Solve
Divide both sides by
Divide both sides by
Simplify
General solutions for
periodicity table with cycle:
Solve
Combine all the solutions
Merge Overlapping Intervals
Graph
Popular Examples
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the general solution for cos(3θ)=cos(θ) ?
The general solution for cos(3θ)=cos(θ) is θ=pin,θ= pi/2+pin