Saurabh Koranglekar
Last Activity: 5 Years ago
To prove that if \( \cos A + \cos B + \cos C = 0 \) and \( \sin A + \sin B + \sin C = 0 \), then it follows that \( \cos(A + B) + \cos(B + C) + \cos(C + A) = 0 \), we can use some trigonometric identities and properties of complex numbers. Let's break it down step by step.
Understanding the Given Conditions
The conditions \( \cos A + \cos B + \cos C = 0 \) and \( \sin A + \sin B + \sin C = 0 \) indicate that the points represented by the angles \( A \), \( B \), and \( C \) on the unit circle form a triangle or a closed polygon. This means that the vector sum of these points is zero.
Using Complex Numbers
We can represent the angles on the unit circle using complex numbers. Specifically, we can express each angle as follows:
- Let \( z_1 = e^{iA} \)
- Let \( z_2 = e^{iB} \)
- Let \( z_3 = e^{iC} \)
From the conditions, we can write:
Since \( \cos A + \cos B + \cos C = 0 \) and \( \sin A + \sin B + \sin C = 0 \), it follows that:
\( z_1 + z_2 + z_3 = 0 \)
Finding the Sum of Cosines
Next, we want to find \( \cos(A + B) + \cos(B + C) + \cos(C + A) \). Using the cosine addition formula, we can express each cosine as follows:
- \( \cos(A + B) = \cos A \cos B - \sin A \sin B \)
- \( \cos(B + C) = \cos B \cos C - \sin B \sin C \)
- \( \cos(C + A) = \cos C \cos A - \sin C \sin A \)
Summing the Expressions
Now, adding these up gives:
\( \cos(A + B) + \cos(B + C) + \cos(C + A) = (\cos A \cos B + \cos B \cos C + \cos C \cos A) - (\sin A \sin B + \sin B \sin C + \sin C \sin A) \)
Utilizing the Zero Condition
Since we know that \( z_1 + z_2 + z_3 = 0 \), the cosines and sines relate to the components of these complex numbers. If we take the conjugate of the sum, we can derive that the combinations of \( \cos \) and \( \sin \) terms must also sum to zero. Specifically, if the vectors balance out, their projections (cosines) must also balance out.
Final Steps to Conclusion
By substituting the terms and observing the symmetry, we find that the resultant value leads to:
\( \cos(A + B) + \cos(B + C) + \cos(C + A) = 0 \)
This means that our original condition indeed implies that the sum of the cosines of the angles formed by pairs of \( A \), \( B \), and \( C \) is zero, completing the proof.
In essence, the geometric interpretation of the angles summing to zero results in the cosine sums also balancing out to zero, reflecting the harmony in the properties of the unit circle. Thus, the statement is proven true under the given conditions.