Geometric progression is a sequence of numbers where each term except the first is calculated by multiplying the previous one by a fixed, non-zero number called the common ratio.
Since sin a, sin b and cos a are in Geometric progression.
\(\therefore \sin ^{2} b=\sin a \cos a\) .....(i)
(Because we know that when three terms are in geometric progression, the square of the second term is the product of the first and third term.)
Also \(x^{2}+2 x \cot b+1=0\) (given)
We will solve the discriminant of this quadratic equation to find its roots.
Formula: \(D=b^{2}-4 a c\)
On comparison we get,
\(a=1\)
\(b=2 \cot b\)
\(c=1\)
Now, Substituting the values of a, b and c in the formula, we get
\(D=4 \cot ^{2} b-4\)
\(D=4\left[\frac{\cos ^{2} b}{\sin ^{2} b}-1\right]\)
\(\because\left\{\frac{\cos }{\sin }=\cot \right\}\)
\(\Rightarrow D=4\left[\frac{\cos ^{2} b-\sin ^{2} b}{\sin ^{2} b}\right]\)
\(\Rightarrow D=4\left[\frac{1-\sin ^{2} b-\sin ^{2} b}{\sin ^{2} b}\right]\)
\(\because\left\{\cos ^{2} \theta+\sin ^{2} \theta=1\right\}\)
\(\Rightarrow D=4\left[\frac{1-2 \sin ^{2} b}{\sin ^{2} b}\right]\)
\(\Rightarrow D=4\left[\frac{1-2 \sin a \cos a}{\sin ^{2} b}\right]\)
By using equation (i)
\(\Rightarrow D=4\left[\frac{\sin ^{2} a+\cos ^{2} a-2 \sin a \cos a}{\sin ^{2} b}\right]\)
\(\Rightarrow D=4\left[\frac{(\sin a-\cos a)^{2}}{\sin ^{2} b}\right]\)
Since, \((a-b)^{2}=a^{2}+b^{2}-2 a b\)
Above equation can also be written by taking all the terms inside the bracket as:
\(\Rightarrow D=\left[\frac{2(\sin a-\cos a)}{\sin b}\right]^{2}\)
Now that we have the value of \(D\), let us see the nature of roots on the basis of discriminant found. And we know.
(i) \(\mathrm{D}>0\) so the roots of the quadratic equation are real and distinct.
(ii) \(\mathrm{D}=\) Othen the roots of the quadratic equation are real and equal.
(iii) \(\mathrm{D}<0\) then the roots of the quadratic equation are unreal or imaginary.
Also we know that the square of any term (positive or negative) is always positive i.e. always greater than 0, Which means \(D>0 \). Also \(\sin b \neq 0\), otherwise the whole fraction will be undefined.
Thus, The roots of the given equation i.e. \(x^{2}+2 x \cot b+1=0\) are real.