How to prove that cosine function is decreasing on the interval $(0,\pi)$ if we are allowed to use only the definition of cosine through exponential function (or Taylor series)?
Cosine function is decreasing on $(0,\pi)$
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analysis
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0What are you allowed to use? How do you define $\pi$? – 2012-11-22
3 Answers
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You can use the definition of decreasing function directly and try to bound $\frac{cos(y)}{cos(x)}$ by $1$ for $x \leq y$. Express $y$ as $x + \Delta$ and use the definition of cosine through exponential function.
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You need to show that the terms of the series are decreasing, but to do that you need to take the derivative of Taylor series. This might also help.
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0The $t$eacher might be trying to get across the idea that "decreasing" means f(y)<=f(x) for x <= y. That's a hard one for students to grasp once they get the notion that it means the derivative is negative. – 2012-11-22
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This may not be the answer you are looking for but I thought it might be worthy enough to be posted.
As $\theta$ increases from $0$ to $\pi$, from the figure, $x$ decreases from $r$ to $-r$. Since $\cos(\theta) = \dfrac{x}r$ and $r$ is fixed $\cos(\theta)$ decreases as $x$ decreases. Hence, $\cos(\theta)$ decreases from $1$ to $-1$ as $\theta$ increases from $0$ to $\pi$.