MHB Another trigonometric equality

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The discussion revolves around proving the trigonometric equality involving tangent functions: tan x + tan(x + 60) - tan(60 - x) = 3tan(3x). A proposed solution includes correcting the third term to tan(60 - x). Participants engage in clarifying the equation and ensuring accurate representation of the terms. The conversation highlights the importance of precise notation in trigonometric identities. The thread emphasizes collaborative problem-solving in mathematics.
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the units of all angles :degree
gien :$tan\, x\,+tan\,(x+60)\,-\,tan(60-x)=3tan(3x)$
prove :$tan^2\, x\,+tan^2\,(x+60)\,+\,tan^2(60-x)=9tan^2(3x)+6$
 
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My solution:

First notice that

i.
$\begin{align*}\small\tan 3x&=\dfrac{\tan x(3-\tan^2 x)}{1-3\tan^2x}\\&= \tan x \left(\dfrac{(\sqrt{3})^2-\tan^2 x}{1^2-(\sqrt{3} \tan x)^2} \right)\\&=\tan x \left(\dfrac{(\sqrt{3}-\tan x)(\sqrt{3}+\tan x)}{(1+\sqrt{3} \tan x)(1-\sqrt{3} \tan x)} \right)\\&=\tan x \tan(60-x) \tan (60+x)\end{align*}$

ii.
$\tan 3x=\dfrac{3\tan x-\tan^3 x}{1-3\tan^2x}\rightarrow\,\,\tan^3 x+\tan3x=3\tan x+3\tan^2 x \tan 3x$We are given $\tan x^{\circ}+\tan(60+x)^{\circ}-\tan(60-x)^{\circ}=3\tan 3x^{\circ}$

If we rewrite it as $\tan(60+x)^{\circ}-\tan(60-x)^{\circ}=3\tan 3x^{\circ}-\tan x^{\circ}$ and squaring it, we get:

$\tan^2(60+x)^{\circ}+\tan^2(60-x)^{\circ}-2\tan(60+x)^{\circ}\tan(60-x)^{\circ}=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+\tan^2 x^{\circ}-6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}$

Modifying it a bit we get

$\begin{align*}\tan^2 x^{\circ}+\tan^2(60+x)^{\circ}+\tan^2(60-x)^{\circ}&=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+2\tan^2 x^{\circ}+2\tan(60+x)^{\circ}\tan(60-x)^{\circ}-6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}\\&=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+2\tan^2 x^{\circ}+\dfrac{2\tan 3x^{\circ}}{\tan x^{\circ}}-6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}\\&=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+\dfrac{2(\tan^3 x^{\circ}+\tan 3x^{\circ})}{\tan x^{\circ}}-6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}\\&=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+\dfrac{2(3\tan x^{\circ}+3\tan^2 x^{\circ}\tan 3x^{\circ})}{\tan x^{\circ}}-6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}\\&=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+6+6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}-6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}\\&=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+6\end{align*}$
 
Last edited:
anemone said:
My solution:

First notice that

i. $\small\tan 3x=\dfrac{\tan x(3-\tan^2 x)}{1-3\tan^2x}= \tan x \left(\dfrac{(\sqrt{3})^2-\tan^2 x}{1^2-(\sqrt{3} \tan x)^2} \right)=\tan x \left(\dfrac{(\sqrt{3}-\tan x)(\sqrt{3}+\tan x)}{(1+\sqrt{3} \tan x)(1-\sqrt{3} \tan x)} \right)=\tan x \tan(60-x) \tan (60+x)$

ii. $\tan 3x=\dfrac{3\tan x-\tan^3 x}{1-3\tan^2x}\rightarrow\,\,\tan^3 x+\tan3x=3\tan x+3\tan^2 x \tan 3x$We are given $\tan x^{\circ}+\tan(60+x)^{\circ}-\tan(60+x)^{\circ}=3\tan 3x^{\circ}$

If we rewrite it as $\tan(60+x)^{\circ}-\tan(60+x)^{\circ}=3\tan 3x^{\circ}-\tan x^{\circ}$ and squaring it, we get:

$\tan^2(60+x)^{\circ}+\tan^2(60+x)^{\circ}-2\tan(60+x)^{\circ}\tan(60+x)^{\circ}=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+\tan^2 x^{\circ}-6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}$

Modifying it a bit we get

$\begin{align*}\tan^2 x^{\circ}+\tan^2(60+x)^{\circ}+\tan^2(60+x)^{\circ}&=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+2\tan^2 x^{\circ}+2\tan(60+x)^{\circ}\tan(60+x)^{\circ}-6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}\\&=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+2\tan^2 x^{\circ}+\dfrac{2\tan 3x^{\circ}}{\tan x^{\circ}}-6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}\\&=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+\dfrac{2(\tan^3 x^{\circ}+\tan 3x^{\circ})}{\tan x^{\circ}}-6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}\\&=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+\dfrac{2(3\tan x^{\circ}+3\tan^2 x^{\circ}\tan 3x^{\circ})}{\tan x^{\circ}}-6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}\\&=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+6+6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}-6\tan 3x^{\circ}\tan x^{\circ}\\&=9\tan^2 3x^{\circ}+6\end{align*}$

the 3rd term in a couple of lines should be $\tan\left({60-x}\right)$
 
kaliprasad said:
the 3rd term in a couple of lines should be $\tan\left({60-x}\right)$

Thanks, kali! I will fix it right away!
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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