sin(72°+x)sin(18°—x)—cos(72°+x)cos(18°—x)=0

令z=cos72°+isin72°,则z^5=1.即
(z-1)(z^4+z^3+z^2+z+1)=0
因为z≠1,所以 z^4+z^3+z^2+z+1=0
<==> z^2+z+1+1/z+1/z^2=0
令y=z+1/z,则 y^2+y-1=0.
解得:y=(-1±√5)/2
又y=z+1/z=2cos72°>0
所以 cos72°=(-1+√5)/4
故 sin18°=cos72°=(-1±√5)/4.
令x = 18°
∴cos3x = sin2x
∴4(cosx)^3 - 3cosx = 2sinxcosx
∵cosx≠ 0
∴4(cosx)^2 - 3 = 2sinx
∴4sinx2 + 2sinx - 1 = 0,
又0 < sinx < 1
∴sinx = (√5 - 1)/4
即sin18° = (√5 - 1)/4.