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Algebra Difficulty 3.4 AMC 10/12 Find the answer

Given that αα is an obtuse angle, if sin(α+π3)=45\sin(α + \frac{π}{3}) = -\frac{4}{5}, find the value of cos(2α+5π12)\cos(2α + \frac{5π}{12}).

A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.

Solution

Since αα is an obtuse angle and sin(α+π3)=45\sin(α + \frac{π}{3}) = -\frac{4}{5},

We know that π<α+π3<3π2π < α + \frac{π}{3} < \frac{3π}{2},

This implies cos(α+π3)=35\cos(α + \frac{π}{3}) = -\frac{3}{5},

Now, let's find sin2(α+π3)=2sin(α+π3)cos(α+π3)=2×(45)×(35)=2425\sin 2(α + \frac{π}{3}) = 2\sin(α + \frac{π}{3})\cos(α + \frac{π}{3}) = 2 \times (-\frac{4}{5}) \times (-\frac{3}{5}) = \frac{24}{25},

And, cos2(α+π3)=2cos2(α+π3)1=2×(35)21=725\cos 2(α + \frac{π}{3}) = 2\cos^2(α + \frac{π}{3}) - 1 = 2 \times (-\frac{3}{5})^2 - 1 = -\frac{7}{25},

Now, we need to find cos(2α+5π12)=cos[(2α+2π3)π4]\cos(2α + \frac{5π}{12}) = \cos[(2α + \frac{2π}{3}) - \frac{π}{4}],

Using the cosine difference formula, we get cos(2α+5π12)=cos(2α+2π3)cosπ4+sin(2α+2π3)sinπ4\cos(2α + \frac{5π}{12}) = \cos(2α + \frac{2π}{3})\cos\frac{π}{4} + \sin(2α + \frac{2π}{3})\sin\frac{π}{4},

Substituting the values, we get cos(2α+5π12)=725×22+2425×22=17250\cos(2α + \frac{5π}{12}) = -\frac{7}{25} \times \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} + \frac{24}{25} \times \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} = \boxed{\frac{17\sqrt{2}}{50}}.

This problem involves the application of trigonometric functions of the same angle and trigonometric identities transformation. It requires flexible use of formulas.

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.