Example 8 Given that a,b are positive numbers, n is a positive integer, and asin4θ+bcos4θ=a+b1.
Solution
Prove: an−1sin2nθ+bn−1cos2nθ=(a+b)n−11. Proof: By the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, we have 1=(a+b)(asin4θ+bcos4θ)⩾(a⋅asin2θ+b⋅bcos2θ)2=(sin2θ+cos2θ)2=1
Furthermore, by the condition for equality in the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, we get asin2θ=bcos2θ=a+bsin2θ+cos2θ=a+b1.
Note: The special aspect of this problem is that, for given positive numbers a and b, the expression asin4θ+bcos4θ achieves its maximum value a+b1, which uniquely determines sin2θ and cos2θ: sin2θ=a+ba,cos2θ=a+bb
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