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Old February 12th, 2008, 09:23 PM
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Default Problem 45

1)Prove that \sin 1^{\circ} and \cos 1^{\circ} are irrational.

3)Suppose that \sum_{k=0}^n k^m = P_m(n) where P_m is an m+1-degree polynomial. Prove that the leading coefficient of P_m is 1/(m+1).
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  #2  
Old February 13th, 2008, 09:13 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ThePerfectHacker View Post
1)Prove that \sin 1^{\circ} and \cos 1^{\circ} are irrational.
Suppose we let:

f = cos(x),g = sin(x)

Then:

e^{xi} = cos(x) + i*sin(x) = f + ig

Therefore:

e^{5xi} = cos(5x) + i*sin(5x) = (f + ig)^5

(f + ig)^5 = f^5 + 5f^4gi - 10f^3g^2 - 10f^2g^3i + 5fg^4 + g^5

Now we take the real parts:

cos(5x) = f^5 - 10f^3g^2 + 5fg^4

Using g^2 = 1 - f^2 throughout:

cos(5x) = 16f^5 - 20f^3 + 5f

We know that:

cos(45-30) = cos(45)cos(30) + sin(45)sin(30) = \frac{\sqrt{3} + 1}{2\sqrt{2}}

This is clearly irrational, therefore:

cos(15) = 16cos(3) - 20cos(3) + 5cos(3) = \frac{\sqrt{3} + 1}{2\sqrt{2}}

If cos(3) was rational, 16cos(3) - 20cos(3) + 5cos(3) would also be rational, which is a contradiction.

Finally:

Using cos(3x) = 4cos^3\!(x) - 3cos(x)

We get:

cos(3) = 4cos^3\!(1) - 3cos(1)

If cos(3) was rational, then 4cos^3\!(1) - 3cos(1) would also be rational, and if cos(1) was rational, then the statement above would also be rational, we have thus arrived at a contradiction:

cos(1) is irrational.

Q.E.D.

I have to go to class someone else do sin(1) or I'll do it later.

Last edited by Aryth; February 13th, 2008 at 12:29 PM.
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Old February 13th, 2008, 12:27 PM
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For sin(1) = irrational

Using the math above and taking the imaginary parts:

isin(5x) = 5f^4gi - 10f^2g^3i

Using f^2 = 1 - g^2

sin(5x) = 5g^9 - 10g^7 + 15g^5 - 5g

We know that:

sin(45 - 30) = sin(45)cos(30) + cos(45)sin(30) = \frac{\sqrt{3} + 1}{2}

That is clearly irrational.

sin(15) = 5sin^9\!(3) - 10sin^7\!(3) + 15sin^5\!(3) - 5sin(3) = \frac{\sqrt{3} + 1}{2}

sin(3) is irrational since sin(15) is irrational.

Finally:

sin(3x) = 3sin(x) - 4sin^3\!(x)

Therefore:

sin(3) = 3sin(1) - 4sin^3\!(1)

Therefore, since sin(3) is irrational, sin(1) is also irrational.

Q.E.D.

Using this as logic:

sin(nx) \ is \ irrational  \Rightarrow sin(x) \ is \ also \ irrational

Same with cos(nx)
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Old February 24th, 2008, 02:51 PM
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2)We are given that \sum_{k=1}^n k^m = P_m(n) where P_m is a polynomial. Suppose we wish to compute the integral of f(x) = x^m over the interval [0,1]. Then \int_0^1 x^m ~ dx = \frac{1}{m+1}. Now there is another way to compute this integral, and that is to use a Riemann sum with n equal subdivision point using the right endpoint. In that case we get \lim ~ \left( \sum_{k=1}^n \frac{k^m}{n^m} \right) \cdot \frac{1}{n} = \lim ~ \frac{1}{n^{m+1}} \sum_{k=1}^n k^m = \lim ~ \frac{P_m(n)}{n^{m+1}}. This limit needs to be 1/(m+1) since that is the integral. But this means the polynomial P_m(n) must be degree m+1 with leading coefficient of 1/(m+1).


In fact, note the following,
\sum_{k=1}^n k = \frac{n(n+1)}{2} = \boxed{\frac{1}{2}}n^2 + \frac{1}{2}n.
\sum_{k=1}^n k^2 = \frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6} = \boxed{\frac{1}{3}}n^3 + \frac{1}{2}n^2+\frac{1}{6}n.
\sum_{k=1}^n k^3 = \frac{n^2(n+1)^2}{4} = \boxed{\frac{1}{4}}n^4 + \frac{1}{2}n^3+\frac{1}{4}n^2.
......
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