Friction directions when a block is on the verge of sliding on an inclined plane

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nab_ said:
ahh okay. I think I understand that
This sort of thing is definitely worth noting. We have two force equations:

nab_ said:
##P_2= \frac{\tan\alpha+\tan\theta}{1-\tan\theta\tan\alpha}##
##P_1=\frac{\tan\theta-\tan\alpha}{\tan\theta\tan\alpha+1}##
The equation for ##P_1## is only valid when ##\tan \theta > \tan \alpha = \mu## and the equation for ##P_2## is only valid when ##1 - \tan \theta \tan \alpha > 0##. I.e ##\mu < \cot \theta##.

That gives the overall condition that ##\mu < \tan \theta, \cot \theta##.