cos(A) + cos(B) + cos(C) =Let A=P+Q and B=P-Q (with hopes of showing that Q=0) Then A+B = 2P and A-B = 2Q A+B+C = 180° C = 180°-(A+B) C = 180°-2P Substituting in the given equation: cos(P+Q)+cos(P-Q)+cos(180°-2P) = cos(P+Q) + cos(P-Q) - cos(2P) = We write an identity for each term on the left and add the three equations: cos(P+Q) = cos(P)cos(Q)-sin(P)sin(Q) cos(P+Q) = cos(P)cos(Q)+sin(P)sin(Q) -cos(2P) = -[2cosē(P)-1] ------------------------------------ = 2cos(P)cos(Q)-2cosē(P)+1 Clear the fraction: 3 = 4cos(P)cos(Q)-4cosē(P)+2 Rearrange the equation with 0 on the right: 4cosē(P) - 4cos(Q)cos(P) + 1 = 0 That is a quadratic equation in cos(P). Its solution(s) must be real so the discriminant must be ≧ 0 bē-4ac ≧ 0 16cosē(Q)-16 ≧ 0 16(cosē(Q)-1) ≧ 0 cosē(Q)-1 ≧ 0 cosē(Q) ≧ 1 The square of a cosine is never > 1 Therefore cosē(Q) = 1 cos(Q) = ą1 Q = 0° or 180° A-B = 2Q A and B cannot differ by 2(180°) or 360° so they must differ by 0°, so Q=0°, so A-B=0 A=B Now if we interchange B and C throughout the above, we will get A=C. So the three angles are equal and thus the triangle is equilateral. Edwin