# Calculate $\sin\frac{3\pi}{14}-\sin\frac{\pi}{14}-\sin\frac{5\pi}{14}$

I have interesting trigonometric expression for professionals in mathematical science. So, here it is: $$\sin\dfrac{3\pi}{14}-\sin\dfrac{\pi}{14}-\sin\dfrac{5\pi}{14};$$ Okay! I attempt calculate it: \begin{gather} \sin\dfrac{3\pi}{14}-\left(\sin\dfrac{\pi}{14}+\sin\dfrac{5\pi}{14}\right)=\\ =\sin\dfrac{3\pi}{14}-\left(2\sin\dfrac{3\pi}{14}\cdot\cos\dfrac{\pi}{7}\right)=\\ =\sin\dfrac{3\pi}{14}\left[1-2\cdot\cos\dfrac{\pi}{7}\right]=... \end{gather} Tried everything... Here deadlock. I really do not know what to do next. Help somebody, please.

• if you are satsified with the value alone, it is -1/2, according to wolframalpha – Bananach Apr 19 '16 at 8:28
• Hint: $\sum\limits_{k=1}^7 \sin\left(\frac{(4k-1)\pi}{14}\right) = 0$ – achille hui Apr 19 '16 at 8:34

For simplicity, let $x = \frac{\pi}{14}$, then we want to simplify: $$\sin 3x-\sin x -\sin 5x$$ Multiply by $\cos x$ to get: $$\color{blue}{\sin 3x\cos x}-\color{green}{\sin x\cos x} -\color{red}{\sin 5x\cos x} \quad (*)$$ With $\sin\alpha\cos\beta = \tfrac{1}{2}\left( \sin(\alpha+\beta)+\sin(\alpha-\beta) \right)$, you have: $$\color{blue}{\sin 3x\cos x = \tfrac{1}{2}\left( \sin 4x +\sin 2x \right)} \quad \mbox{and} \quad \color{red}{\sin 5x\cos x = \tfrac{1}{2}\left( \sin 6x +\sin 4x \right)}$$ and $\color{green}{\sin x\cos x = \tfrac{1}{2}\sin 2x}$; so: $$\require{cancel} (*) \quad \tfrac{1}{2}\left( \cancel{\sin 4x} +\bcancel{\sin 2x} \right) - \bcancel{\tfrac{1}{2}\sin 2x} - \tfrac{1}{2}\left( \sin 6x +\cancel{\sin 4x} \right) = - \tfrac{1}{2}\sin 6x$$ Divide again by $\cos x$: $$- \tfrac{1}{2}\frac{\sin 6x}{\cos x} = - \tfrac{1}{2}\frac{\sin \frac{6\pi}{14}}{\cos \frac{\pi}{14}}= - \tfrac{1}{2}\frac{\cos\left( \frac{\pi}{2}-\frac{6\pi}{14}\right)}{\cos \frac{\pi}{14}} =- \tfrac{1}{2}\frac{\cos\frac{\pi}{14}}{\cos \frac{\pi}{14}} = -\frac{1}{2}$$

Let $14x=\pi$

$$S=\sin3x-\sin x-\sin5x=\sin3x+\sin(-x)+\sin(-5x)$$

$$\sin(-2x)\cdot S=\cos5x-\cos7x$$

$$-\sin2x\cdot S=\cos5x=\sin2x$$

As $\cos7x=0,\cos5x=\sin2x$ as $5x+2x=\dfrac\pi2$

Can you take it from here?