Q.In △ABC, A+B+C=π; show that cos2A+cos2B+cos2C=−1−4cosAcosBcosC
Concept understanding — Trigonometric Functions of Angles of a Triangle
In any triangle ABC the three angles satisfy A+B+C=π. This one constraint converts every trigonometric expression in A,B,C into an identity, because it lets us always replace one angle by π minus the sum of the other two, e.g. A+B=π−C so sin(A+B)=sinC and cos(A+B)=−cosC; halving gives 2A+B=2π−2C so sin2A+B=cos2C and cos2A+B=sin2C, and cyclic versions hold for the other two angles. Combined with the compound-angle, multiple-angle and factorization formulae, these substitutions let a huge family of triangle identities — such as sin2A+sin2B+sin2C=4sinAsinBsinC, cosA+cosB+cosC=1+4sin2Asin2Bsin2C and tanA+tanB+tanC=tanAtanBtanC — be proved by a short, standard three- or four-line reduction to π−C (or, for half-angle versions, to 2π−2C).
Group cos2A+cos2B as a product using A+B=π−C, then combine with cos2C.
LHS =−1−4cosAcosBcosC= RHS, identity proved.
Step 1: cos2A+cos2B=2cos(A+B)cos(A−B)=2cos(π−C)cos(A−B)=−2cosCcos(A−B) (since cos(π−C)=−cosC).
Step 2: cos2C=2cos2C−1.
Step 3: Sum: −2cosCcos(A−B)+2cos2C−1=−2cosC[cos(A−B)−cosC]−1.
Step 4: Since C=π−(A+B), cosC=−cos(A+B), so cos(A−B)−cosC=cos(A−B)+cos(A+B)=2cosAcosB.
Step 5: So the sum is −2cosC(2cosAcosB)−1=−1−4cosAcosBcosC.
Identity proved: cos2A+cos2B+cos2C=−1−4cosAcosBcosC.
Use A+B=π−C to convert cos2A+cos2B to a product, then substitute cosC=−cos(A+B).
- Forgetting that cos(π−C)=−cosC, which is the sign that ultimately produces the −1−4cosAcosBcosC form rather than a plus.
- CBSE 2024Set 1A7 marksQ.If A, B, C are the angles of a triangle, prove that sin2A+sin2B+sin2C=4sinAsinBsinC
›Reveal solutionSolution
Pair sin2A+sin2B using the sum-to-product formula (which brings in sinC via A+B=π−C), then combine with sin2C and use cosC=−cos(A+B) to collapse everything to 4sinAsinBsinC.
Given: A,B,C are angles of a triangle, so A+B+C=π. Show sin2A+sin2B+sin2C=4sinAsinBsinC.
Step 1. Combine the first two terms using sinP+sinQ=2sin(2P+Q)cos(2P−Q):
sin2A+sin2B=2sin(A+B)cos(A−B)
Step 2. Since A+B=π−C, sin(A+B)=sin(π−C)=sinC:
sin2A+sin2B=2sinCcos(A−B)
Step 3. Add sin2C=2sinCcosC:
sin2A+sin2B+sin2C=2sinCcos(A−B)+2sinCcosC=2sinC[cos(A−B)+cosC]
Step 4. Since C=π−(A+B), cosC=−cos(A+B), so:
cos(A−B)+cosC=cos(A−B)−cos(A+B)
Step 5. Use cos(A−B)−cos(A+B)=2sinAsinB:
cos(A−B)+cosC=2sinAsinB
Step 6. Substitute back:
sin2A+sin2B+sin2C=2sinC⋅2sinAsinB=4sinAsinBsinC
✓Final answersin2A+sin2B+sin2C=4sinAsinBsinC.
- CBSE 2020Set 1A7 marksQ.If A, B, C are angles in a triangle, then prove that : sinA+sinB+sinC=4cos2Acos2Bcos2C.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Combine sinA+sinB via the sum-to-product formula (using A+B=π−C), write sinC=2sin2Ccos2C, then combine the two remaining cosine terms with another sum-to-product step.
Given A+B+C=π (angles of a triangle).
Step 1 — combine sinA+sinB:
sinA+sinB=2sin2A+Bcos2A−B
Since A+B=π−C, we have 2A+B=2π−2C, so sin2A+B=sin(2π−2C)=cos2C. Thus:
sinA+sinB=2cos2Ccos2A−B
Step 2 — write sinC using the double-angle formula:
sinC=2sin2Ccos2C
Step 3 — add and factor out 2cos2C:
sinA+sinB+sinC=2cos2C[cos2A−B+sin2C]
Step 4. Since 2C=2π−2A+B, sin2C=cos2A+B. So the bracket is cos2A−B+cos2A+B, and applying sum-to-product again (cosX+cosY=2cos2X+Ycos2X−Y with X=2A−B,Y=2A+B):
cos2A−B+cos2A+B=2cos2Acos2B
Step 5 — combine:
sinA+sinB+sinC=2cos2C⋅2cos2Acos2B=4cos2Acos2Bcos2C
✓Final answersinA+sinB+sinC=4cos2Acos2Bcos2C.
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