Which is Greater? $\cos(\cos 1))$ vs $\cos(\cos(\cos 1)))$

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In summary, cosine is a mathematical function that calculates the ratio of the adjacent side of a right triangle to its hypotenuse. The notation "cos(cos 1)" means that the cosine function is being applied twice, with the input of 1. The difference between "cos(cos 1)" and "cos(cos(cos 1))" lies in the number of times the cosine function is being applied. The only way to determine which is greater, "cos(cos 1)" or "cos(cos(cos 1))", is to actually evaluate the expressions using a calculator. This comparison is often used in mathematics to illustrate the concept of nested functions and the effect of applying a function multiple times, as well as how a small change in the
  • #1
anemone
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Determine which of the following is greater?

$\cos(\cos 1))$ or $\cos(\cos(\cos 1)))$
 
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  • #2
anemone said:
Determine which of the following is greater?

$\cos(\cos 1))$ or $\cos(\cos(\cos 1)))$

we have $\cos 1 < 1$
so $\cos(\cos 1) > (\cos 1)$
so $\cos(\cos(\cos 1)) < \cos (\cos 1))$
Hence $2^{nd}$ term is larger

above is using the fact that $\cos{t} < 1 < \frac{\pi}{2}$ and for $a > b$ $\cos (a) < \cos (b) $
 
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  • #3
Just to illustrate kaliprasad's solution (from a dynamical systems perspective):
[sp]The brown curve is $y=\cos x$, the blue line is $y=x$.
View attachment 5480
[/sp]
 

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  • #4
Thanks kaliprasad for your solution! I solved it the same way you did!

A special thanks to Opalg for attaching the graph for illustration purpose! I appreciate it!
 

FAQ: Which is Greater? $\cos(\cos 1))$ vs $\cos(\cos(\cos 1)))$

What is cosine?

Cosine is a mathematical function that calculates the ratio of the adjacent side of a right triangle to its hypotenuse.

What does the notation "cos(cos 1)" mean?

The notation "cos(cos 1)" means that the cosine function is being applied twice, with the input of 1. So the output would be the cosine of the cosine of 1.

How is "cos(cos 1)" different from "cos(cos(cos 1))"?

The difference lies in the number of times the cosine function is being applied. In "cos(cos 1)", the function is being applied twice, while in "cos(cos(cos 1))", it is being applied three times.

How do you determine which is greater, "cos(cos 1)" or "cos(cos(cos 1))"?

The only way to determine which is greater is to actually evaluate the expressions using a calculator. The result will depend on the value of the input, in this case, 1.

What is the significance of comparing "cos(cos 1)" and "cos(cos(cos 1))"?

This comparison is often used in mathematics to illustrate the concept of nested functions and the effect of applying a function multiple times. It also demonstrates how a small change in the input can lead to a significant difference in the output.

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