Yet another curious identity?

Geometry Level 5

Find the smallest integer n > 3 n>3 such that k = 3 n 2 cos ( 2 k ) = 1 \displaystyle \prod_{k=3}^{n}2\cos(2^k)=1 , where angles are measured in degrees.

If no such n n exists, enter 666 as your answer.

Bonus question : What is the solution for k = 2 n 2 cos ( 2 k ) = 1 \displaystyle \prod_{k=2}^{n}2\cos(2^k)=1 ?

Inspiration


The answer is 14.

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1 solution

Otto Bretscher
Sep 6, 2015

Angles will be measured in degrees throughout.

Multiplying the given equation with sin ( 8 ) \sin(8) and using the rule 2 ( sin x ) ( cos x ) 2(\sin{x})(\cos{x}) = sin ( 2 x ) =\sin(2x) repeatedly, we find that sin ( 2 n + 1 ) = sin ( 8 ) . \sin(2^{n+1})=\sin(8). (This approach is discussed here .)This means that either 2 n + 1 8 = 360 k 2^{n+1}-8=360k or 2 n + 1 + 8 = 180 ( 2 k 1 ) 2^{n+1}+8=180(2k-1) for some positive integer k k . The second equation has no integer solutions since the LHS is divisible by 8 while the RHS isn't. Dividing the first equation by 8, we see that 2 n 2 1 = 45 k 2^{n-2}-1=45k , meaning that 2 n 2 1 ( m o d 45 ) 2^{n-2}\equiv{1}\pmod{45} . Since the Carmichael lambda of 45 is 12, we know that 2 12 1 ( m o d 45 ) 2^{12}\equiv{1}\pmod{45} , and we can easily check that no lower exponent does the job. Thus n 2 = 12 n-2=12 and n = 14 n=\boxed{14} . In summary, we have the intriguing "Morrie's Law" type of equation ( cos 8 ) ( cos 16 ) ( cos 32 ) . . . ( cos 8192 ) ( cos 16384 ) = k = 3 14 cos ( 2 k ) = 1 2 12 (\cos{8})(\cos{16})(\cos{32})...(\cos{8192})(\cos{16384})=\prod_{k=3}^{14}\cos(2^k)=\frac{1}{2^{12}}

Now, what about the bonus question?

Is there any solution to 2^(n+1) = 360k + 4 or 2^(n+1) = 360k - 184? I can't find any for n<1000. Does this mean bonus question has no solution?

Kaushik Chakraborty - 5 years, 9 months ago

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Indeed, there is no solution, as we prove here .

Otto Bretscher - 5 years, 9 months ago

Can you explain me why sin(2^(n+1))=sin8 ?

de azalea - 5 years, 6 months ago

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