It's so easy for summation

Geometry Level 2

n = 1 89 ( sin n cos n tan n ) = ? \large\displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^{89}(\sin{n^\circ}\cos{n^\circ}\tan{n^\circ})=\ ?


The answer is 44.5.

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3 solutions

Prasun Biswas
May 7, 2015

We first simplify the general term as follows:

sin ( n ) cos ( n ) tan ( n ) = sin ( n ) cos ( n ) sin ( n ) cos ( n ) = sin 2 ( n ) \sin(n^\circ)\cos(n^\circ)\tan(n^\circ)=\frac{\sin(n^\circ)\cos(n^\circ)\sin(n^\circ)}{\cos(n^\circ)}=\sin^2(n^\circ)

Now, we use the identity sin ( 9 0 A ) = cos ( A ) \sin(90^\circ-A^\circ)=\cos(A^\circ) to rewrite our sum along with the simplified form of general term obtained. We also use the identity sin 2 θ + cos 2 θ = 1 θ R \sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1~\forall~\theta\in\Bbb{R} which also works for θ \theta in degrees since they are real when expressed in radians. Call the sum S S . We get,

S = n = 1 89 sin 2 ( n ) = ( n = 1 44 ( sin 2 ( n ) + cos 2 ( n ) ) ) + sin 2 ( 4 5 ) S = ( n = 1 44 1 ) + 1 2 = 44 × 1 + 1 2 = 44.5 S=\sum_{n=1}^{89}\sin^2(n^\circ)=\left(\sum_{n=1}^{44}\left(\sin^2(n^\circ)+\cos^2(n^\circ)\right)\right)+\sin^2(45^\circ)\\ \implies S=\left(\sum_{n=1}^{44}1\right)+\frac{1}{2}=44\times 1+\frac{1}{2}=44.5

Moderator note:

Good use of the complementary angles: sin ( A ) = cos ( 90 A ) \sin (A) = \cos(90-A) . What would the sum be if the number 89 89 is replaced by the number 90 90 ?

[Response to Challenge Master Note]

Well, the sum would be undefined then since tan ( 9 0 ) \tan(90^{\circ}) is undefined (or we can say it has no finite value).

The usage of the simplification of general term for evaluating the sum done in this solution is only valid when all the terms of the sum is defined, which is possible if and only if n ( 2 a + 1 ) × 90 a Z n\neq (2a+1)\times 90~\forall~a\in\Bbb{Z} .

If the upper sum limit is changed to 90 90 , we have the last term of the sum with n = 90 n=90 which doesn't go into our simplification. Rather, that undefined term makes the whole sum undefined.

Prasun Biswas - 6 years, 1 month ago

@Prasun Biswas , we really liked your comment, and have converted it into a solution. If you subscribe to this solution, you will receive notifications about future comments.

Brilliant Mathematics Staff - 6 years, 1 month ago
Leif Segen
May 15, 2015

As others have noted, sin n cos n tan n = sin 2 n \sin n^{ \circ }\cos n^{ \circ }\tan n^{ \circ }=\sin ^{ 2 } n^{ \circ } .

What does sin 2 n \sin ^{2} n^{\circ} look like? See below.

But we're interested in the interval from n = 1 n^{\circ} = 1 to n = 89 n^{\circ} = 89 :

The summation is similar to the following integral:

... which is equal to the area of this rectangle:

... which has an area of 0.5 × 90 = 45 0.5 \times 90 = 45 .

Saikiran Namana
May 7, 2015

sin n *cos n * tan n = sin n * sin n

sin 1=cos 89

sin n * sin n+cos n * cos n =1

sin 45* sin 45=0.5

Using these you can get answer

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