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Geometry Level 2

sin 6 x + cos 6 x = 1 4 \large \sin^6 x + \cos^6 x = \frac 14

Solve for x x in degrees, for 0 < x < 9 0 0^\circ < x <90^\circ :

Source: VMO 1962


The answer is 45.

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4 solutions

( sin 2 x + cos 2 x ) 3 = sin 6 x + 3 sin 4 x cos 2 x + 3 sin 2 x cos 4 x + cos 6 x 1 = sin 6 x + cos 6 x + 3 sin 2 x cos 2 x ( sin 2 x + cos 2 x ) 1 = sin 6 x + cos 6 x + 3 4 sin 2 2 x \begin{aligned} (\sin^2 x + \cos^2 x)^3 & = \sin^6 x + 3\sin^4 x \cos^2 x + 3 \sin^2 x \cos^4 x + \cos^6 x \\ 1 & = \sin^6 x + \cos^6 x + 3 \sin^2 x \cos^2 x(\sin^2 x + \cos^2 x) \\ 1 & = \sin^6 x + \cos^6 x + \frac 34 \sin^2 2x \end{aligned}

sin 6 x + cos 6 x = 1 3 4 sin 2 2 x 1 3 4 sin 2 2 x = 1 4 sin 2 2 x = 1 sin 2 x = 1 for 0 < x < 9 0 2 x = 9 0 x = 45 \begin{aligned} \implies \sin^6 x + \cos^6 x & = 1 - \frac 34 \sin^2 2x \\ 1 - \frac 34 \sin^2 2x & = \frac 14 \\ \sin^2 2x & = 1 \\ \sin 2x & = 1 & \small \color{#3D99F6} \text{for } 0^\circ < x < 90^\circ \\ 2x & = 90^\circ \\ \implies x & = \boxed{45}^\circ \end{aligned}

(sinx)^6+(cox)^6=[(sinx) ^2+(cox)^2]^3 - 3(sinx)^2(cosx)^2[(sinx)^2+(cosx)^2]=1-3(sinx)^2(cosx)^2. Therefore 1-3(sinx)^2(cosx)^2=(1/4). Or 4(sinx)^2(cosx)^2=1 or sin(2x)=1 (since x<90 degrees, therefore sin(2x)>0) or 2x=90 degrees or x=45 degrees .

Bryan Mw
May 1, 2019

With the following two conditions known, it's easy to solve this problem:

  1. Assume s i n 2 x sin^{2}x = a a , and

  2. s i n 2 x + c o s 2 x sin^{2}x + cos^{2}x = 1 1

Substituting (1) into the equation gives a 3 a^{3} + ( 1 a ) 3 (1-a)^{3} = 1 4 \frac{1}{4}

By expansion, a 3 + ( 1 3 a + 3 a 2 a 3 ) a^{3} + (1-3a+3a^{2}-a^{3}) = 1 4 \frac{1}{4}

3 a 2 3 a + 3 4 3a^{2}-3a+\frac{3}{4} = 0 0

a 2 a + 1 4 = 0 a^{2}-a+\frac{1}{4} = 0

( a 1 2 ) 2 = 0 (a^-\frac{1}{2})^{2} = 0

a = 1 2 a = \frac{1}{2}

Since s i n 2 x = 1 2 sin^{2}x = \frac{1}{2} , s i n x = 2 2 sinx = \frac{\sqrt2}{2}

x = 4 5 x = \boxed{45^{\circ}}

Zhang Xiaokang
May 2, 2019

Here is a lazy solution: the question only states 1 x value with the interval that makes the equation true. The sin and cos graphs for the given interval are positive and symmetrical about x = 45°,the same goes for their 6 powers. Now if there is a solution other than 45°, there will be 2 solutions one x, and the other 90° - x. But since the question only asks for one solution, x must then be 45°. Substituting this in show sthat it is a solution

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