MHB Can You Prove This Trigonometric Inequality?

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The discussion centers on proving the inequality $\tan 6^{\circ}+\tan 24^{\circ}+\tan 42^{\circ}+\tan 86^{\circ} > 4$. Participants share their approaches and calculations to demonstrate the validity of the inequality. Corrections and clarifications are made regarding previous mistakes in the calculations. The conversation highlights the importance of accurate trigonometric evaluations in proving inequalities. Ultimately, the focus remains on successfully establishing the inequality through mathematical reasoning.
anemone
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Prove $\tan 6^{\circ}+\tan 24^{\circ}+\tan 42^{\circ}+\tan 86^{\circ}\gt 4$.
 
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anemone said:
Prove $\tan 6^{\circ}+\tan 24^{\circ}+\tan 42^{\circ}+\tan 86^{\circ}\gt 4$.

My solution:

First we know

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 700"]
[TR]
[TD]$\tan x=x+\dfrac{x^3}{3}+\dfrac{2x^5}{15}+\cdots$[/TD]
[TD]$86^{\circ}=\dfrac{86^{\circ}\pi}{180^{\circ}}>1.5$ rad[/TD]
[TD]$42^{\circ}=\dfrac{42^{\circ}\pi}{180^{\circ}}>0.733$ rad[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

So we have

$\begin{align*}\tan 42^{\circ}+\tan 86^{\circ}&\gt (1.5+\dfrac{1.5^3}{3}+\dfrac{2(1.5)^5}{15}+\cdots)+(0.733+\cdots)\\&>3.6375+0.733\\&>4.3705\end{align*}$

Since $\tan 6^{\circ},\, \tan 24^{\circ}>0$ we can conclude by now $\tan 6^{\circ}+\tan 24^{\circ}+\tan 42^{\circ}+\tan 86^{\circ}\gt 4$ and we're hence done.
 
Last edited:
anemone said:
My solution:

First we know

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 700"]
[TR]
[TD]$\tan x=x+\dfrac{x^3}{3}+\dfrac{2x^5}{15}+\cdots$[/TD]
[TD]$86^{\circ}=\dfrac{86^{\circ}\pi}{180^{\circ}}<1.5$ rad[/TD]
[TD]$42^{\circ}=\dfrac{42^{\circ}\pi}{180^{\circ}}<0.733$ rad[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

So we have

$\begin{align*}\tan 42^{\circ}+\tan 86^{\circ}&\gt (1.5+\dfrac{1.5^3}{3}+\dfrac{2(1.5)^5}{15}+\cdots)+(0.733+\cdots)\\&>3.6375+0.733\\&>4.3705\end{align*}$

Since $\tan 6^{\circ},\, \tan 24^{\circ}>0$ we can conclude by now $\tan 6^{\circ}+\tan 24^{\circ}+\tan 42^{\circ}+\tan 86^{\circ}\gt 4$ and we're hence done.

should be

$86^{\circ}=\dfrac{86^{\circ}\pi}{180^{\circ}}>1.5$ rad
 
Thanks kaliprasad for catching it, I just fixed the mistakes.:o
 
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In Dirac’s Principles of Quantum Mechanics published in 1930 he introduced a “convenient notation” he referred to as a “delta function” which he treated as a continuum analog to the discrete Kronecker delta. The Kronecker delta is simply the indexed components of the identity operator in matrix algebra Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-exactly-is-diracs-delta-function/ by...

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