A calculus problem by Sarthak Srivastava

Calculus Level 2

Solve for real x x cos ( cos ( cos ( cos x ) ) ) = sin ( sin ( sin ( sin x ) ) ) . \cos\left(\cos\left(\cos\left(\cos x\right)\right)\right)=\sin\left(\sin\left(\sin\left(\sin x\right)\right)\right).

Image credit: Wikipedia Dirk Hünniger
No Solution Infinitely many solutions Finitely many solutions, more than 10 Finitely many solutions, less than 9

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3 solutions

Samarth Sangam
Sep 24, 2014

c o s ( c o s ( c o s ( c o s x ) ) ) = s i n ( s i n ( s i n ( s i n x ) ) ) cos(cos(cos(cosx)))=sin(sin(sin(sinx)))

can be rewritten as

s i n ( π 2 c o s ( c o s ( c o s x ) ) ) = s i n ( s i n ( s i n ( s i n x ) ) ) π 2 c o s ( c o s ( c o s x ) ) = n π + ( 1 ) n s i n ( s i n ( s i n x ) ) ( s i n x = s i n θ t h e n x = n π + ( 1 ) n θ n N ) n π π 2 = ( 1 ) n s i n ( s i n ( s i n x ) ) + c o s ( c o s ( c o s x ) ) s i n c e n π π 2 > 2 f o r a n y n N i f n i s o d d t h e n s i n ( s i n ( s i n x ) ) + c o s ( c o s ( c o s x ) ) a n d i f n i s e v e n s i n ( s i n ( s i n x ) ) + c o s ( c o s ( c o s x ) ) b u t m a x i m u m v a l u e o f ( 1 ) n s i n ( s i n ( s i n x ) ) + c o s ( c o s ( c o s x ) ) i s 1.3359 b u t n π π 2 > 1.3359 t h e r e f o r e n π π 2 > ( 1 ) n s i n ( s i n ( s i n x ) ) + c o s ( c o s ( c o s x ) ) t h e r e i s n o s o l u t i o n f o r x sin(\frac { \pi }{ 2 } -cos(cos(cosx)))=sin(sin(sin(sinx)))\\ \frac { \pi }{ 2 } -cos(cos(cosx))=n\pi +{ (-1) }^{ n }sin(sin(sinx))\\ \left( sinx=sin\theta \\ then\quad x=n\pi +{ (-1) }^{ n }\theta \\ n\in N \right) \\ n\pi -\frac { \pi }{ 2 } ={ (-1) }^{ n }sin(sin(sinx))+cos(cos(cosx))\\ since\quad \left| n\pi -\frac { \pi }{ 2 } \right| >2\quad for\quad any\quad n\in N\\ if\quad n\quad is\quad odd\quad then\quad -sin(sin(sinx))+cos(cos(cosx))\quad \\ and\quad if\quad n\quad is\quad even\quad \quad sin(sin(sinx))+cos(cos(cosx))\\ but\quad maximum\quad value\quad of\quad { (-1) }^{ n }sin(sin(sinx))+cos(cos(cosx))\quad is\quad 1.3359\\ but\quad \left| n\pi -\frac { \pi }{ 2 } \right| >1.3359\quad \\ therefore\quad n\pi -\frac { \pi }{ 2 } >{ (-1) }^{ n }sin(sin(sinx))+cos(cos(cosx))\\ \quad there\quad is\quad no\quad solution\quad for\quad x

Edit: To find the maximum of sin sin sin x + cos cos cos x \sin \sin \sin x + \cos \cos \cos x , Wolfram Alpha tells us that it is 1.3359, which is achieved when x 0.945 x \approx 0.945 . It is hard to solve for this value explicitly, without powerful computational tools.

I agree that the maximum value of sin ( θ ) + cos ( θ ) \sin(\theta) + \cos(\theta) is 2 \sqrt{2} , but this is only true if the arguments are both the same. In this case we have one argument being sin ( sin ( x ) ) \sin(\sin(x)) and the other being cos ( cos ( x ) ) \cos(\cos(x)) . So all we can say is that the maximum of sin ( sin ( sin ( x ) ) ) + cos ( cos ( cos ( x ) ) ) \sin(\sin(\sin(x))) + \cos(\cos(\cos(x))) is 2 2 , which is greater than π 2 \frac{\pi}{2} .

Brian Charlesworth - 6 years, 8 months ago

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2 > ( π 2 = 1.57 ) 2>(\frac { \pi }{ 2 } \quad =1.57)

samarth sangam - 6 years, 8 months ago

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Yes, that is what I have pointed out, which would as a result not be sufficient information to make the desired conclusion. As I have pointed out above, we can't automatically say that the maximum of sin ( sin ( sin ( x ) ) ) + cos ( cos ( cos ( x ) ) ) \sin(\sin(\sin(x))) + \cos(\cos(\cos(x))) is 2 \sqrt{2} , since the arguments are not the same.

As Richard Levine has pointed out, the maximum of this sum turns out to be approximately 1.3359 1.3359 , which is in fact < π 2 \lt \frac{\pi}{2} , but it took WolframAlpha to get that result.

As Math Man indicates, we can solve this problem using calculus, analyzing relative maximums and minimums of the functions on the two sides of the original equation. This makes this question more of a Level 4 calculus problem than a level 2 geometry problem. I'm still looking for a way to avoid using calculus. :)

Brian Charlesworth - 6 years, 8 months ago

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@Brian Charlesworth It there is a non-calculus approach, I think it will take quite a lot of machinery.

The reason why this is Level 2, is because the answer is somewhat easily guessed from the options. Given that it needs Calculus, I have moved this into Calculus instead.

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years, 8 months ago

@Brian Charlesworth Yes there is a solution through calculus

samarth sangam - 6 years, 8 months ago

@Brian Charlesworth yes as richard said max(cos(cos(cos x)) + sin(sin(sin x)) is 1-3359. putting cos(cos(cosx))) as cos(sin(pi/2 -cosx))) and written all cos terms in terms of sin

samarth sangam - 6 years, 8 months ago

According to WolframAlpha online, max(cos(cos(cos x)) + sin(sin(sin x))) is approx. 1.3359 when x is approx. .904984. But pi/2 is approx. 1.57, which is greater than 1.3359. So Samarth's answer would be correct if squareroot(2) was changed to approx. 1.3359 in the answer given.

Richard Levine - 6 years, 8 months ago

calced it lol

math man - 6 years, 8 months ago

Note that just because sin α = sin β \sin \alpha = \sin \beta doesn't immediately imply that α = β ( + 2 n π ) \alpha = \beta (+ 2n \pi ) . We could have α + β = π ( + 2 n π ) \alpha + \beta = \pi (+2n \pi ) instead.

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years, 8 months ago

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Sir i have edited the solution and submitted as per your note and using (in general) if s i n x = s i n θ t h e n x = n π + ( 1 ) n θ n N sinx=sin\theta \\ then\quad x=n\pi +{ (-1) }^{ n }\theta \\ n\in N

samarth sangam - 6 years, 8 months ago

sir general solution for sinx is s i n x = s i n θ t h e n x = n π + ( 1 ) n θ n N sinx=sin\theta \\ then\quad x=n\pi +{ (-1) }^{ n }\theta \\ n\in N how can (as you mention) solution for tanx be a solution for sinx

samarth sangam - 6 years, 8 months ago

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This looks much better now.

We are saying the same thing, just that I split it out into cases of n = 2 k n = 2k and n = 2 k + 1 n = 2k + 1 . Using your general solution, we have

α = 2 k π + β \alpha = 2k \pi + \beta or α = ( 2 k + 1 ) π β \alpha = (2k+1) \pi - \beta .

FYI - To type equations in Latex, you just need to add around your math code. I've edited the first line in your solution, so you can refer to it.

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years, 8 months ago

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@Calvin Lin OK sir thank you i got it

samarth sangam - 6 years, 8 months ago

is my solution correct or wrong?

samarth sangam - 6 years, 8 months ago

i m not satisfied with your solution

Neeraj Kumar - 6 years, 8 months ago

I'm not sure, but I think there is 1 solution!! , the equation can be written as tan(tan(tan(tan(x)))) = 1 , then x will be 89.35 degrees "and if you consider the first atan value is 225 instead of 45, it will converge to the same value of 89.35, correct me if I'm wrong..

Mohamed Sakr - 6 years, 8 months ago

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No. That does not work. It is not true that sin cos = tan \frac{ \sin } { \cos } = \tan , even thought that is a simplified way of remembering. You have to consider the argument of the function.

What is true is that sin θ cos θ = tan θ \frac { \sin \theta } { \cos \theta } = \tan \theta .

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years, 8 months ago

I just have a question. Would you tell me, please, is it correct expression "cos(cos(cos(x)))) or sin(sin(sin(x))))"? Is it correct to get cos, sin, tan, etc. of number that is not value of some angle in degrees of radians? In my opinion this problem does not have a sense, hense, do not have solution, and should not be posted here. Are you agree?

Yan Shapiro - 6 years, 8 months ago

It does not have solution because x supposed to be some angle value in degrees or radians, but sin(x) or cos(x) or is just numbers. They are not degrees, not radians. it's impossible to get sin(sin(sin(x)))) or cos(cos(cos(cos(x)))) hence sin(sin(x)) and cos(cos(x)) are numeric values, but not degrees or radians value. Therefore, sorry, this problem is nonsense!

Yan Shapiro - 6 years, 8 months ago

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This equation is in radians.

While I agree with you that "sin of a numeric value doesn't make sense", the convention is to implicitly assume that the numeric value is a radian measure. For example, we say sin π 2 \sin \frac{ \pi } { 2} , instead of saying sin ( π 2 \sin ( \frac{\pi}{2} radians ).

From another point of view, we say that the function sin : R R \sin : \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R} , which is a function from the reals to the reals.

As such, repeated iterations of the sin (and cos) function still make sense.

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years, 8 months ago
Anubhav Sinha
Sep 19, 2014

cos[cos[cos[cos[X]]]] = sin[pi/2 -cos[cos[cos[X]]]] therefore , sin[pi/2 -cos[cos[cos[X]]]] = sin(sin(sin(sin(x)))] therfore , pi/2 -cos[cos[cos[X]]] = sin(sin(sin(x))) i.e. sin(sin(sin(x))) + cos[cos[cos[X]]] = pi/2 which is not possibe bcoz maX vaue of sin(x) + cos(x) is sqrt 2 pi/2 > sqrt 2

Note that just because sin α = sin β \sin \alpha = \sin \beta doesn't immediately imply that α = β \alpha = \beta . We could have α + β = π \alpha + \beta = \pi instead.

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years, 8 months ago
Abhishek Singh
Dec 16, 2015

It'll be a fluctuating pulse over x axis throughout real axis without touching any point on x axis

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