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2004 AMC 12A Problem 21

Problem 21 of 25HarderAlgebraGeometry

If ∑n=0∞cos⁡2nθ=5,\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \cos^{2n} \theta = 5, what is the value of cos⁡2θ?\cos 2\theta?

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Solution

The series is geometric with first term 11 and ratio cos⁡2θ,\cos^2 \theta, so its sum is 11−cos⁡2θ=1sin⁡2θ=5.\dfrac{1}{1 - \cos^2 \theta} = \dfrac{1}{\sin^2 \theta} = 5. Thus sin⁡2θ=15,\sin^2 \theta = \tfrac15, and cos⁡2θ=1−2sin⁡2θ=1−25=35. \begin{aligned} \cos 2\theta &= 1 - 2\sin^2 \theta \\ &= 1 - \tfrac25 = \tfrac35. \end{aligned} Thus, the correct answer is D.
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Tagged: geometric sequence · trigonometric identity

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