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cos a + cos (a +2\pi /3 ) + cos (a+4\pi /3)

Source: Vietnamese MO (VMO) 1964

August 22, 2018
trigonometrySumgeometry

Problem Statement

Given an arbitrary angle α\alpha, compute cosα+cos(α+2π3)+cos(α+4π3)cos \alpha + cos \big( \alpha +\frac{2\pi }{3 }\big) + cos \big( \alpha +\frac{4\pi }{3 }\big) and sinα+sin(α+2π3)+sin(α+4π3)sin \alpha + sin \big( \alpha +\frac{2\pi }{3 } \big) + sin \big( \alpha +\frac{4\pi }{3 } \big) . Generalize this result and justify your answer.