SOLUTION: Express cos 90- cos 50 as a product containing only sines and/or cosines

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Question 1010813: Express cos 90- cos 50 as a product containing only sines and/or cosines
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, MathTherapy:
Answer by ikleyn(52790) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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Express cos(90°)- cos(50°) as a product containing only sines and/or cosines
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Use this formula of Trigonometry



(see the lesson Addition and subtraction of trigonometric functions in this site).

When you apply it, you will get

cos(90°)- cos(50°) = -2*sin((140°)/2)*sin((40°)/2) = -2*sin(70°)*sin(20°).


Answer by MathTherapy(10552) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Express cos 90- cos 50 as a product containing only sines and/or cosines
Difference of two angles formula: cos (A - B) = cos A cos B + sin A sin B
cos (90 - 50) = cos 90 cos 50 + sin 90 sin 50
cos (90 - 50) = 0 * cos 50 + 1 * sin 50
cos (90 - 50) = 0 + sin 50
highlight_green%28cos+%2890+-+50%29+=+sin+50%29
OR
Shortcut
sin and cos are COFUNCTIONS, so cos (90 - 50) = cos 40 = sin (90 - 40), or sin 50