The Cosine of a Sum Formula

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 23 views

The Expression $\cos \frac{\pi}{2} \cos \frac{\pi}{3} + \sin \frac{\pi}{2} \sin \frac{\pi}{3}$ : A Simplification Using Trigonometric Identities

Trigonometric identities are a crucial part of mathematics, and they play a vital role in simplifying complex expressions involving trigonometric functions. In this article, we will explore the expression $\cos \frac{\pi}{2} \cos \frac{\pi}{3} + \sin \frac{\pi}{2} \sin \frac{\pi}{3}$ and simplify it using trigonometric identities.

The given expression involves the product of cosine and sine functions. To simplify this expression, we need to use the trigonometric identity that relates the product of cosine and sine functions to the cosine of a sum of angles.

The Cosine of a Sum Formula

The cosine of a sum formula states that:

\cos (A + B) = \cos A \cos B - \sin A \sin B

However, in our expression, we have the product of cosine and sine functions, not the difference. To simplify this expression, we need to use the cosine of a difference formula, which states that:

\cos (A - B) = \cos A \cos B + \sin A \sin B

Using the cosine of a difference formula, we can rewrite the given expression as:

\cos \frac{\pi}{2} \cos \frac{\pi}{3} + \sin \frac{\pi}{2} \sin \frac{\pi}{3} = \cos \left(\frac{\pi}{2} - \frac{\pi}{3}\right)

Now, let's simplify the expression inside the cosine function:

\frac{\pi}{2} - \frac{\pi}{3} = \frac{3\pi}{6} - \frac{2\pi}{6} = \frac{\pi}{6}

Therefore, the expression can be rewritten as:

\cos \frac{\pi}{2} \cos \frac{\pi}{3} + \sin \frac{\pi}{2} \sin \frac{\pi}{3} = \cos \frac{\pi}{6}

In this article, we simplified the expression $\cos \frac{\pi}{2} \cos \frac{\pi}{3} + \sin \frac{\pi}{2} \sin \frac{\pi}{3}$ using the cosine of a difference formula. We showed that the expression can be rewritten as $\cos \frac{\pi}{6}$ .

The correct answer is A. $\cos \frac{\pi}{6}$ .

The cosine of a difference formula is a fundamental trigonometric identity that relates the product of cosine and sine functions to the cosine of a sum of angles. This formula is used extensively in mathematics and physics to simplify complex expressions involving trigonometric functions.

Trigonometric identities are a crucial part of mathematics, and they play a vital role in simplifying complex expressions involving trigonometric functions. Some of the most common trigonometric identities include:

Pythagorean Identity: $\sin^2 x + \cos^2 x = 1$
Cosine of a Sum Formula: $\cos (A + B) = \cos A \cos B - \sin A \sin B$
Cosine of a Difference Formula: $\cos (A - B) = \cos A \cos B + \sin A \sin B$
Sine of a Sum Formula: $\sin (A + B) = \sin A \cos B + \cos A \sin B$
Sine of a Difference Formula: $\sin (A - B) = \sin A \cos B - \cos A \sin B$

These identities are used extensively in mathematics and physics to simplify complex expressions involving trigonometric functions.

Trigonometric identities have numerous real-world applications in fields such as physics, engineering, and computer science. Some of the most common applications include:

Wave Propagation: Trigonometric identities are used to model wave propagation in physics and engineering.
Circuit Analysis: Trigonometric identities are used to analyze electrical circuits in electronics and computer science.
Navigation: Trigonometric identities are used in navigation systems such as GPS to determine the location and orientation of a vehicle or device.

$In conclusion, trigonometric identities are a fundamental part of mathematics and play a vital role in simplifying complex expressions involving trigonometric functions. The cosine of a difference formula is a crucial identity that relates the product of cosine and sine functions to the cosine of a sum of angles.<br/> **Q&A: The Expression $\cos \frac{\pi}{2} \cos \frac{\pi}{3} + \sin \frac{\pi}{2} \sin \frac{\pi}{3}$**$

Q: What is the given expression?

A: The given expression is $\cos \frac{\pi}{2} \cos \frac{\pi}{3} + \sin \frac{\pi}{2} \sin \frac{\pi}{3}$ .

Q: How can we simplify this expression?

A: We can simplify this expression using the cosine of a difference formula, which states that:

\cos (A - B) = \cos A \cos B + \sin A \sin B

Q: What is the cosine of a difference formula?

A: The cosine of a difference formula is a trigonometric identity that relates the product of cosine and sine functions to the cosine of a sum of angles. It is given by:

\cos (A - B) = \cos A \cos B + \sin A \sin B

Q: How can we apply the cosine of a difference formula to the given expression?

A: We can apply the cosine of a difference formula to the given expression by rewriting it as:

\cos \frac{\pi}{2} \cos \frac{\pi}{3} + \sin \frac{\pi}{2} \sin \frac{\pi}{3} = \cos \left(\frac{\pi}{2} - \frac{\pi}{3}\right)

Q: What is the value of $\frac{\pi}{2} - \frac{\pi}{3}$ ?

A: The value of $\frac{\pi}{2} - \frac{\pi}{3}$ is $\frac{\pi}{6}$ .

Q: Therefore, what is the simplified expression?

A: Therefore, the simplified expression is $\cos \frac{\pi}{6}$ .

Q: What is the correct answer?

A: The correct answer is A. $\cos \frac{\pi}{6}$ .

Q: What are some real-world applications of trigonometric identities?

A: Some real-world applications of trigonometric identities include:

Wave Propagation: Trigonometric identities are used to model wave propagation in physics and engineering.
Circuit Analysis: Trigonometric identities are used to analyze electrical circuits in electronics and computer science.
Navigation: Trigonometric identities are used in navigation systems such as GPS to determine the location and orientation of a vehicle or device.

Q: What are some common trigonometric identities?

A: Some common trigonometric identities include:

Pythagorean Identity: $\sin^2 x + \cos^2 x = 1$
Cosine of a Sum Formula: $\cos (A + B) = \cos A \cos B - \sin A \sin B$
Cosine of a Difference Formula: $\cos (A - B) = \cos A \cos B + \sin A \sin B$
Sine of a Sum Formula: $\sin (A + B) = \sin A \cos B + \cos A \sin B$
Sine of a Difference Formula: $\sin (A - B) = \sin A \cos B - \cos A \sin B$

Q: Why are trigonometric identities important?

A: Trigonometric identities are important because they provide a way to simplify complex expressions involving trigonometric functions. They are used extensively in mathematics and physics to model real-world phenomena and solve problems.