Is there any way to calculate [math]\cos 36^\circ[/math] using only algebra?

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sin 20∘
How do we prove that 2 cos 40∘ −cos 20∘ = tan 30∘
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How do I calculate cos, sine, etc. without a

Is there any way to calculate cos 36∘ using only

calculator?

Does differentiation degrade algebraic

algebra? calculation?
 
If
Edit Answer Follow · 45 Request A= (cos 12∘
− ⋅
cos 36∘ ) (sin 96∘
+ sin 24∘ )
B = (sin 60 − sin 12 ) ⋅ (cos 48 − cos 72∘ )
∘ ∘ ∘

You've written an answer then what is A equal to?

B
You can edit or delete it at any time.
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Kostyantyn Mazur, PhD in mathematics
Answered Jul 29

For the purpose of this question, it will be assumed that trigonometric identities are
allowed to be used, but complex numbers are not.

It will also be assumed that cos(36) refers to the cosine of 36 degrees, not the cosine
of 36 radians. (However, the default interpretation of cos(x) uses radians; this
makes the sin and cos functions have some nice calculus properties.)
Amitabha Tripathi and Roman Andronov upvoted this
More Related Questions
With that out of the way, the first question is what is 36 degrees? What part of the  
Upvote · 874875 Share · 2
circle is that? It is 1 of a circle, or 1 of a semicircle. In other words, adding it to
10 5 In other languages
itself five times will get an angle with known trigonometric functions.
En español: ¿Existe alguna forma de calcular cos (36)
Well, then. The logical next step is to compute either cos(180) or sin(180) using utilizando solamente álgebra?

180 = 36 + 36 + 36 + 36 + 36 or something similar. We do have formulae for

that, as well as the “first” trig identity, sin 2 (x) + cos2 (x) =1 . Question Stats

4 Public Followers
As for cos(180) or sin(180) , which one to compute? Perhaps both; maybe one of
17,466 Views
them gives something useful and the other does not. For convenience, x= 36 . The
Last Asked Jul 29
plan is to build up cos(5x) and sin(5x) , starting from cos(2x) and sin(2x) .
Edits

cos(2x) = cos2 (x) − sin 2 (x)

sin(2x) = 2 sin(x) cos(x)

https://www.quora.com/Is-there-any-way-to-calculate-cos-36-circ-using-only-algebra[11/22/2018 4:38:31 AM]

Is there any way to calculate [math]\cos 36^\circ[/math] using only algebra? - Quora

cos(3x) = cos(2x) cos(x) − sin(2x) sin(x)

= (cos2 (x) − sin 2(x)) cos(x) − (2 sin(x) cos(x)) sin(x)

= cos3 (x) − sin 2 (x) cos(x) − 2 sin 2 (x) cos(x)

= cos3 (x) − 3 sin 2 (x) cos(x)

sin(3x) = sin(2x) cos(x) + cos(2x) sin(x)

= (2 sin(x) cos(x)) cos(x) + (cos2 (x) − sin 2 (x)) sin(x)

= 2 sin(x) cos2 (x) + sin(x) cos2 (x) − sin 3 (x)

= 3 sin(x) cos2 (x) − sin 3(x)

cos(5x) = cos(3x) cos(2x) − sin(3x) sin(2x)

= (cos3 (x) − 3 sin 2(x) cos(x)) (cos2 (x) − sin 2 (x)) − (3 sin(x) cos2 (x) − sin 3 (x)) (2 sin(x) cos(x))

= cos5 (x) − 3 sin 2 (x) cos3 (x) − cos3 (x) sin 2 (x) + sin 4 (x) cos(x) − 6 sin 2 (x) cos3 (x) + sin 4 (x) cos(x)

= cos5 (x) − 10 sin 2 (x) cos3 (x) + 5 sin 4 (x) cos(x)

sin(5x) = sin(3x) cos(2x) + cos(3x) sin(2x)

= (cos3 (x) − 3 sin 2(x) cos(x)) (2 sin(x) cos(x)) + (3 sin(x) cos2 (x) − sin 3 (x)) (cos2 (x) − sin 2 (x))

= 2 sin(x) cos4 (x) − 6 sin 3(x) cos2 (x) + 3 sin(x) cos4 (x) − sin 3 (x) cos2 (x) − 3 sin 3 (x)cos 2 (x) + sin 5 (x)

= 5 sin(x) cos4 (x) − 10 sin 3(x) cos2 (x) + sin 5 (x)

This would have been easier with complex numbers, because of

eix = cos(x) + i sin(x) . Then, both sides could be taken to the 5th power, leaving
cos(5x) + i sin(5x) = (cos(x) + i sin(x)) 5 . From there, simplifying and
grouping terms by whether or not they have i s gets the same identities. In fact, if one
wants to only know one trigonometric identity, eix = cos(x) + i sin(x) is the one
to know. The rest can be gotten from there. Incidentally: in this formula, the
trigonometric functions have x in radians.

So,

cos(5x) = cos5 (x) − 10 sin 2 (x) cos3 (x) + 5 sin 4 (x) cos(x)

sin(5x) = 5 sin(x) cos4 (x) − 10 sin 3 (x) cos2(x) + sin 5 (x)

Well, 5x = 180 , so cos(5x) = −1 and sin(5x) =0 . This gives

−1 = cos5(x) − 10 sin 2 (x) cos3 (x) + 5sin 4 (x) cos(x)

0 = 5 sin(x) cos4 (x) − 10 sin 3(x) cos2 (x) + sin 5 (x)

or, since sin(x) is not zero (certainly not for x = 36 ),

−1 = cos5(x) − 10 sin 2 (x) cos3 (x) + 5sin 4 (x) cos(x)

0 = 5 cos4 (x) − 10 sin 2 (x) cos2 (x) + sin 4 (x)

https://www.quora.com/Is-there-any-way-to-calculate-cos-36-circ-using-only-algebra[11/22/2018 4:38:31 AM]

Is there any way to calculate [math]\cos 36^\circ[/math] using only algebra? - Quora

This system looks difficult. However, we do have sin 2 (x) + cos2 (x) =1 , so
maybe everything should be converted to cos(x) .

−1 = cos5(x) − 10 (1 − cos2 (x)) cos3 (x) + 5(1 − cos2 (x))

2
cos(x)

0 = 5cos 4 (x) − 10 (1 − cos2 (x)) cos2 (x) + (1 − cos2 (x))

2

−1 = cos5(x) − 10 cos3 (x) + 10 cos5 (x) + 5 cos(x) − 10 cos3 (x) + 5 cos5 (x)

0 = 5cos 4 (x) − 10 cos2 (x) + 10 cos4 (x) + 1 − 2 cos2 (x) + cos4 (x)

−1 = 16 cos5(x) − 20 cos3 (x) + 5 cos(x)

0 = 16 cos4 (x) − 12 cos2 (x) + 1

The second equation is quadratic in cos2 (x) , so that can be solved.

12±√ −4(16)(1)+(−12) 2
cos2 (x) = 2(16)

12±√ −64+144
= 32

12±√ 80
= 32

3±√ 5
= 8
−3±−−−
√5
So, cos(x) = ±√ 8
. Why did we get the ± signs in the first place? That is
because there are other ways to have five of the same angle add up to 180 degrees:
this angle could be 36, 108, 180, 252, or 324 degrees, and our equations never
distinguished between the angles, except for not letting sin(x) to be zero, which
took x = 180 away. Besides, we never used the first equation, so we would also get
cases for x = 0, 72, 144, 216, 288 , with x = 0 being removed by the cancellation.
We should have eight solutions, but cos(360 − x) = cos(x) , so we actually have
four pairs of duplicates. In any case, we need to separate the x = 36 case that we
need from the rest.

First, the ± in front of the square root is a + because the angle 36 is between 0 and
90.
−3±−−−
√5
cos(36) = √ 8

−3+−−−
√5
−3−−−−
√5
It remains to distinguish √ from √ . Given that we want something
8 8
√2 √
−3+−−−
√5
−3−−−−
√5
bigger than cos(45) = , fulfills that need, but √ does not. (A
2 8 8
–
calculator check does this, or one can square both sides, put the √ 5 term on one side
and the rest on the other, and square again, which also verifies this.)

−3+−−−
√5
So, cos(36) =√ 8
.

Finally, the answer to the question: Yes, it is possible to calculate cos(36) using only
algebra.

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Is there any way to calculate [math]\cos 36^\circ[/math] using only algebra? - Quora

Alexander Farrugia upvoted this

 
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Alexander Farrugia, uses trigonometry in topics that are seemingly unrelated.

Answered Jul 30 · Upvoted by Kostyantyn Mazur, PhD in mathematics

Am I allowed to use a tiny little bit of trigonometry too? Yes? Good, then here’s how I
would do it.

Note first that

cos 72∘ = sin 18∘ .

The above is simply using the fact that a right-angled triangle with angles 72∘ , 18∘
and 90∘ exists, and we’re using elementary trigonometry on this triangle.

But

cos 36∘ = 1 − 2 sin 2 18∘

or

cos 36∘ = 1 − 2 cos2 72∘ .

This is slightly weird, because

cos 72∘ = 2 cos2 36∘ − 1.

Hence

cos 36∘ = 1 − 2(2 cos2 36∘ − 1) 2. (*)

We now let x = cos 36∘ , so that (∗) becomes the algebraic quartic equation

8x 4 − 8x 2 + x + 1 = 0.

Let us factorize the left hand side.

8x 4 − 8x 2 + x + 1 = 8x 2 (x 2 − 1) + (x + 1)

= 8x 2 (x + 1)(x − 1) + (x + 1)

= (x + 1)(8x 2 (x − 1) + 1)

= (x + 1)(8x 3 − 8x 2 + 1).

https://www.quora.com/Is-there-any-way-to-calculate-cos-36-circ-using-only-algebra[11/22/2018 4:38:31 AM]

Is there any way to calculate [math]\cos 36^\circ[/math] using only algebra? - Quora

Now clearly cos 36∘ ≠ −1 , so we may simplify our quartic into a cubic:

8x 3 − 8x 2 + 1 = 0.

We note that x = 1/2 is a root of the above cubic, using the factor theorem, so

(2x − 1)(4x 2 − 2x − 1) = 0.

Once again, cos 36∘ cannot be equal to 1/2 … we know that cos 60∘ = 1/2 and the
cosine function is bijective if its input angle is acute. Thus we may simplify our cubic
into a quadratic:

4x 2 − 2x − 1 = 0.

We use the quadratic formula, to obtain:

1 ± √ –5
x= .
4
Clearly cos 36∘ cannot be negative. Thus

1+√ –
cos 36∘ =
5
.
4
Note that this number is exactly half the golden ratio . The reasons for this slightly
surprising fact are explained in this other answer of mine.

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Prince Singh
sir please i have request to you to see my answer on this question whether it is right or wron…

Kamal Jain, know a bit of elementary math.

Answered Jul 30

This solution uses only algebra. It is worth drawing a unit circle on a paper with the
two axis.

Let x be the first (counter clock wise from 1) 10th root of unity. Cos 36 degrees is the
real-part of x.

Real part of x is also the negative of the real part of x^4.

Let y be the first (counter clock wise from 1) 5th root of unity. So x^2 is y, and hence
x^4 is the second (counter clock wise from 1) 5th root of unity.

y^5 – 1 = 0

(y-1)(y^4 + y^3 + y^2 + y + 1) = 0

Since y is not 1, we get

https://www.quora.com/Is-there-any-way-to-calculate-cos-36-circ-using-only-algebra[11/22/2018 4:38:31 AM]

Is there any way to calculate [math]\cos 36^\circ[/math] using only algebra? - Quora

y^4 + y^3 + y^2 + y + 1 = 0.

Note that our answer is the negative of the real part of y^2.

Note that y^2 and y^3 are conjugate, so adding them cancels their imaginary parts
while doubles the real part. So our answer is the negative half of y^2+y^3.

Let us denote our answer with z.

z = -(y^2 + y^3)/2

-2z = y^2 + y^3

Square both sides give us

4z^2 = y^4 + y^6 + 2y^5 = y^4 + y + 2

Therefore,

1+y+y^2+y^3+y^4 = 0

gives us

1 -2z + 4z^2 – 2 = 0

4z^2 – 2z – 1 = 0

z = [2 + \sqrt(20)]/8 = [1 +\sqrt(5)]/4

The other root is negative.

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David Vanderschel upvoted this

 
Upvote · 45 Share

David Vanderschel
You have come closest to doing it purely with algebra. But, when you are doing algebra with…

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Doug Dillon, PhD Mathematics, Queen's University, Professional Bassist

Answered Jul 29

And a little geometry. We must use some trig so that we can write cos. In the
diagram are two similar isosceles triangles and so we can say

x 1
=
1 x+1

https://www.quora.com/Is-there-any-way-to-calculate-cos-36-circ-using-only-algebra[11/22/2018 4:38:31 AM]

Is there any way to calculate [math]\cos 36^\circ[/math] using only algebra? - Quora

from which

x2 + x − 1 = 0 and

−1 + √ –
5
x= .
2
Then

2
2( 1+2√ 5 ) − 1 1+√ –
5
cos 36 = =
– 2
1+√ 5 4
2( )
2

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David Vanderschel upvoted this

 
Upvote · 1314 Share

Prince Singh
sir please i have request to you to see my answer on this question whether it is right or wron…

1 more comment from David Vanderschel

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Is there any way to calculate [math]\cos 36^\circ[/math] using only algebra? - Quora

Gopal Menon, B Sc (Hons) Mathematics, Indira Gandhi National Open University

(2010)
Answered Jul 30

We want to calculate the value of cos 36o .

Let θ = 36o ⇒ 5θ = 180o .

⇒ cos 3θ = − cos(180o − 3θ) = − cos(5θ − 3θ) = − cos 2θ.

⇒ cos 3θ + cos 2θ = 0.

⇒ 4 cos3 θ − 3 cos θ + 2 cos2 θ − 1 = 0.

⇒ 4 cos3 θ + 2 cos2 θ − 3 cos θ − 1 = 0.

⇒ (1 + cos θ)((4 cos2 θ − 2 cos θ − 1) = 0.

⇒ 1 + cos θ = 0 or 4 cos2 θ − 2 cos θ − 1 = 0.

1 + cos θ = 0 ⇒ cos θ = −1 ⇒ cos 36o = −1,

which is not the case.

⇒
1±√ 5
4 cos2 θ − 2 cos θ − 1 = 0 cos θ = 4
.

⇒
1−√ 5
cos θ = 4
cos 36o is negative,

which is not the case.

⇒ ⇒
1+√ 5 1+√ 5
cos θ = 4
cos 36o = 4
.

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Prince Singh, studied Mathematics & Science (2018)
m
Answered Tue
e
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I am writing
t.. the answer without using any trigo, so let’s start
.

we are using some theorem that the two sides of an isosceles triangle are equal

and perpendicular on the third side bisects it.

proceeding

so let be an isosceles triangle ABC of angle measure angle a= 36,b=36 and c=108

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Is there any way to calculate [math]\cos 36^\circ[/math] using only algebra? - Quora

let the equal side be 1 and 1 and C = y

so by using my formulae(may be discovered)

In a triangle in which x and 3x angle present(In this x=36 and 3x=108)

the side relation is C^2=A^2+A*B^2/C-A

so putting the value y^2=1^2+1*1^2/y-1

y^2=1+1/y-1

y^2=(y-1+1)/y-1

y^2=y/y-1

y^2*(y-1)=y ……dividing both sides by y

y(y-1)=1

y^2-y-1=0

solving the equation the value of y=(1+5^1/2)/2

so we get the side c as (1+5^1/2)/2

now draw a perpendicular on side c

then we come with two right triangles whose angles are 36,54 and 90

as you guess the side c is bisected now the measure of the base in right triangle is
(1+5^1/2)/4

now you have hypotenuse measure =1 and base = (1+5^1/2)/4

so cos36= ((1+5^1/2)/4)/1=(1+5^1/2)/4=0.80901699437

I am not so sure about my answer, please tell me whether it is right or wrong

because I am in grade 9 and here no one will tell me in my area

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Douglas Magowan
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Answered Jul 30
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Here is a t..
derivation that will require you to know De Moivre’s theorem. That is for a
.
complex number in polar form:

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Is there any way to calculate [math]\cos 36^\circ[/math] using only algebra? - Quora

z = ρ(cos θ + i sin θ)
z n = ρn (cos nθ + i sin nθ)
Consider the polynomial z 5 −1 = 0

This polynomial has 5 roots (by the fundamental theorem of algebra).

4 of these roots are complex.

The sum of the 5 roots equals the coefficient of the z 4 term.

The sum of the roots equals 0.

If the sum of the roots equals 0, then the sum of the real parts of the roots also must
equal 0.

By De Moivre’s theorem:

z 5 = 1 = (cos(2nπ) + i sin(2nπ))
1
2nπ 2nπ
z = (cos(2nπ) + i sin(2nπ)) 5 = cos 5
+ i sin 5

Geometrically, these roots form a regular pentagon in the complex plane.

2π 4π 6π 8π
cos 0 + cos 5
+ cos 5
+ cos 5
+ cos 5
=0

Some basic trig:

cos 2π
5
= cos 72∘
cos 4π
5
= cos 144∘ = − cos 36∘

cos π − x = cos π + x ⟹ cos 2π

5
= cos 8π
5
 and  cos 4π
5
= cos 6π
5

1 + 2 cos 2π + 2 cos 4π =0 and 1 + 2 cos 4π + 2 cos 8π =0

5 5 5 5

Last bit of trig:

cos 2x = 2 cos2 x − 1 ⟹ cos 8π

2
= 2 cos2 4π
2
−1

Substituting into:

4π 8π
1 + 2 cos 5
+ 2 cos 5
=0

Gives:

−1 + 2 cos 4π
5
+ 4 cos2 4π
5
=0

Use the quadratic formula:

4π −2±√ 20 −1±√ 5
cos 5
= 8
= 4

Since cos 4π < 0 and cos 4π

> 0, We can deduce:
5 5

2π−1+√ 5
cos 5
=
4
−1− √5
cos 4π
5
= 4

cos 36∘ = 1+4√ 5

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Is there any way to calculate [math]\cos 36^\circ[/math] using only algebra? - Quora

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