MHB Simplifying tan(2arccotx) - Peter's Question at Yahoo Answers

AI Thread Summary
To simplify tan(2arccot x), the double-angle identity for tangent is applied, resulting in y = (2tan(cot^-1(x))) / (1 - tan^2(cot^-1(x))). By using the identity cot^-1(x) = tan^-1(1/x), this expression simplifies further. Ultimately, the simplification leads to y = 2x / (x^2 - 1). The process effectively demonstrates the use of trigonometric identities to simplify the original expression.
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Here is the question:

How to simplify tan(2arccot x)?

How do you to simplify tan(2arccotx) as much as possible?

(using trigonometric identities)

thank you!

I have posted a link there to this thread so the OP can view my work.
 
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Hello Peter,

We are given to simplify:

$$y=\tan\left(2\cot^{-1}(x) \right)$$

Let's first apply the double-angle identity for the tangent function, which is:

$$\tan(2\theta)=\frac{2\tan(\theta)}{1-\tan^2(\theta)}$$

and we obtain:

$$y=\frac{2\tan\left(\cot^{-1}(x) \right)}{1-\tan^2\left(\cot^{-1}(x) \right)}$$

Next, we may apply the identity:

$$\cot^{-1}(x)=\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{x} \right)$$

and we obtain:

$$y=\frac{2\tan\left(\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{x} \right) \right)}{1-\tan^2\left(\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{x} \right) \right)}$$

This reduces to:

$$y=\frac{\dfrac{2}{x}}{1-\left(\dfrac{1}{x} \right)^2}$$

Multiplying the right side by $$1=\frac{x^2}{x^2}$$ we get:

$$y=\frac{2x}{x^2-1}$$
 
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