1. Sep 28, 2009

### synergix

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
tan(sqrt(x))
locate discontinuities

3. The attempt at a solution
tan(sqrt(x))=
sin(sqrt(x))/cos(sqrt(x))

so x cannot= (pi/2)2 + (pi)n when n is an integer

I am just wondering if this is correct

Last edited: Sep 28, 2009
2. Sep 28, 2009

### Staff: Mentor

No.
There are a couple of things to consider:
1. the domain of sqrt(x)
2. the domain of the tangent function.
Changing tan(x) to sin(x)/cos(x) isn't any help, I don't believe.

If we let y = sqrt(x), y will be in the domain of the tangent function provided that y = $\pi/2 + k\pi$
IOW, $\sqrt{x} = \pi/2 + k\pi$, where k is an integer.
I believe you were on this track, but solved this equation incorrectly. Try again.

3. Sep 28, 2009

### synergix

what does IOW mean? x must be greater then one and cannot equal ((pi/2 + (pi)n)^2 when n is a positive integer right?

4. Sep 28, 2009

### Dick

IOW means either 'In Other Words' or 'Isle of Wight'. Pick one. I just looked it up. Mark44 is saying tan(sqrt(x)) isn't defined if sqrt(x)=pi/2+k*pi where k is an integer. Solve for x. It's not quite what you said it was.

5. Sep 28, 2009