What is the largest real number θ less than π (i.e. θ<π ) such that ∏k=010cos(2kθ)=0 and $\prod_{k=0}^{10}\left(1+\frac{1}{\cos \left(2^{k} \theta\right)}\right)=1 ?
A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.
Solution
For equality to hold, note that θ cannot be an integer multiple of π (or else sin=0 and cos=±1 ). Let z=eiθ/2=±1. Then in terms of complex numbers, we want ∏k=010(1+z2k+1+z−2k+12)=∏k=010z2k+1+z−2k+1(z2k+z−2k)2 which partially telescopes to z211+z−211z+z−1∏k=010(z2k+z−2k). Using a classical telescoping argument (or looking at binary representation; if you wish we may note that z−z−1=0, so the ultimate telescoping identity holds), this simplifies to tan(θ/2)tan(210θ). Since tanx is injective modulo π (i.e. π-periodic and injective on any given period), θ works if and only if 2θ+ℓπ=1024θ for some integer ℓ, so θ=20472ℓπ. The largest value for ℓ such that θ<π is at ℓ=1023, which gives θ=20472046π
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