SOLUTION: How is cos pi/4 + cos pi/6 different than cos (pi/4 + pi/6)? Wouldn't the second one distribute giving you the same answer?

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Question 672742: How is cos pi/4 + cos pi/6 different than cos (pi/4 + pi/6)? Wouldn't the second one distribute giving you the same answer?
Answer by fcabanski(1391) About Me  (Show Source):
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In the case of trig functions what is inside the parentheses is the angle value the trig function acts upon. cos 30 degrees + cos 60 degrees is not equal to cos (30+60) = cos(90) degrees.


cos pi/4 = .707 and cos pi/6 = .866. Their sum is 1.573.


cos (pi/4 + pi/6) is cos (10pi/24) = .259.

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