Question:medium

Evaluate \[ \cos\frac{\pi}{7}\cos\frac{2\pi}{7}\cos\frac{3\pi}{7} \cos\frac{4\pi}{7}\cos\frac{5\pi}{7}\cos\frac{6\pi}{7}. \]

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Remember the standard identity \[ \cos\frac{\pi}{7} \cos\frac{2\pi}{7} \cos\frac{3\pi}{7} = \frac18. \] For products involving all six cosine terms, pair them using \[ \cos(\pi-\theta)=-\cos\theta \] to reduce the expression quickly.
Updated On: Jul 9, 2026
  • \(\dfrac{1}{8}\)
  • \(-\dfrac{1}{16}\)
  • \(\dfrac{1}{32}\)
  • \(-\dfrac{1}{64}\) \bigskip
Show Solution

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Concept: Use the identity \(\cos(\pi - \theta) = -\cos\theta\) to pair terms, then apply the double-angle formula repeatedly to evaluate the product of cosines.

Step 1:
Pair the cosine terms using symmetry. Let \[ P = \cos\frac{\pi}{7}\cos\frac{2\pi}{7}\cos\frac{3\pi}{7}\cos\frac{4\pi}{7}\cos\frac{5\pi}{7}\cos\frac{6\pi}{7}. \] Note \(\cos\frac{6\pi}{7} = -\cos\frac{\pi}{7}\), \(\cos\frac{5\pi}{7} = -\cos\frac{2\pi}{7}\), \(\cos\frac{4\pi}{7} = -\cos\frac{3\pi}{7}\). Therefore, \[ P = \left(-\cos\frac{\pi}{7}\right)\left(-\cos\frac{2\pi}{7}\right)\left(-\cos\frac{3\pi}{7}\right) \cos\frac{\pi}{7}\cos\frac{2\pi}{7}\cos\frac{3\pi}{7} = -\left(\cos\frac{\pi}{7}\cos\frac{2\pi}{7}\cos\frac{3\pi}{7}\right)^2. \]

Step 2:
Evaluate \(\cos\frac{\pi}{7}\cos\frac{2\pi}{7}\cos\frac{3\pi}{7}\). Let \(x = \frac{\pi}{7}\). Multiply and divide by \(2\sin x\): \[ \cos x \cos 2x \cos 3x = \frac{2\sin x \cos x \cos 2x \cos 3x}{2\sin x} = \frac{\sin 2x \cos 2x \cos 3x}{2\sin x} = \frac{\sin 4x \cos 3x}{4\sin x}. \] Since \(\sin 4x = \sin\left(\frac{4\pi}{7}\right) = \sin\left(\pi - \frac{3\pi}{7}\right) = \sin 3x\), we get: \[ \frac{\sin 3x \cos 3x}{4\sin x} = \frac{\sin 6x}{8\sin x}. \] Now \(\sin 6x = \sin\frac{6\pi}{7} = \sin\left(\pi - \frac{\pi}{7}\right) = \sin x\). Thus, \[ \cos\frac{\pi}{7}\cos\frac{2\pi}{7}\cos\frac{3\pi}{7} = \frac{\sin x}{8\sin x} = \frac{1}{8}. \]

Step 3:
Substitute back and write the final answer. \[ P = -\left(\frac{1}{8}\right)^2 = -\frac{1}{64}. \] \[ \boxed{-\frac{1}{64}} \]
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