Simplifying the Triple Angle of Tangent Function

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the simplification of the triple angle formula for the tangent function, specifically the expression for \(\tan 3A\). Participants are exploring the derivation and simplification of this trigonometric identity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to derive the formula for \(\tan 3A\) using known identities and seeks validation of their steps. Some participants question the accuracy of the derivation, particularly regarding the handling of terms in the denominator. Others suggest revisiting specific steps to ensure correctness.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging in the verification of the original poster's calculations. Some guidance has been offered regarding potential errors in the derivation, and there is an ongoing effort to clarify the correct formulation of the triple angle tangent function.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of specific values used for \(A\) to test the derived formula, which raises questions about the validity of the results obtained from the original expression. Participants are also reflecting on the accuracy of their algebraic manipulations.

pavadrin
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hey
sorry to distrub you, but i was surfing the net for the triple angle of tangent trig function but could not find it so i decided to use infomation i knew to solve it. i would like to know if what i have done is correct, and if it can be simplified further, thanks. What i have done is as follows:

\<br /> \begin{array}{c}<br /> \tan 3A = \tan \left( {2A + A} \right) \\ <br /> = \frac{{\tan 2A + \tan A}}{{1 - \tan 2A\tan A}} \\ <br /> = \frac{{\left( {\frac{{2\tan A}}{{1 - \tan ^2 A}}} \right) + \tan A}}{{1 - \left( {\frac{{2\tan A}}{{1 - \tan ^2 A}}} \right) \cdot \tan A}} \\ <br /> = \frac{{\frac{{2\tan A + \left( {\tan A\left( {1 - \tan ^2 A} \right)} \right)}}{{1 - \tan ^2 A}}}}{{\frac{{\left( {1 - \tan ^2 A} \right) - 2\tan ^2 A}}{{1 - \tan ^2 A}}}} \\ <br /> = \frac{{2\tan A + \left( {\tan A\left( {1 - \tan ^2 A} \right)} \right)}}{{\left( {1 - \tan ^2 A} \right) - 2\tan ^2 A}} \\ <br /> = \frac{{2\tan A + \tan A - \tan ^3 A}}{{1 - \tan A - 2\tan ^2 A}} \\ <br /> = \frac{{3\tan A - \tan ^3 A}}{{1 - \tan A - 2\tan ^2 A}} \\ <br /> \end{array}<br /> \

thank you,
Pavadrin
 
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I randomly chose A=23 and your formula didn't produce the same value as tan(69). On your 4th to 5th step you dropped the ^2 term on one of the tangents in the denominator
 
okay thanks for checking. ill try top fix the problem and re-post
 
okay i finally got some time to solve it again. is the triple angle of tangent equal to this:

<br /> \frac{{\frac{{2\tan A}}{{1 - \tan ^2 A}} + \tan A}}{{1 - \frac{{2\tan ^2 A}}{{1 - \tan ^2 A}}}}<br />

and is that as simple as what i can get it?
 
Multiply both numerator and denominator by 1- tan2A to get
\frac{2tanA+ tanA(1- tan^2 A)}{1- tan^2 A- 2tan^2A}
That's essentially what you have in the fifth line of your original calculation. Then
tan 3A= \frac{3tan A- tan^3 A}{1- 3tan^2 A}[/itex]<br /> <br /> As vsage said (although it was between your fifth and sixth lines by my count, not fourth and fifth) one tan<sup>2</sup> A accidently became tan A.
 
okay thanks for the reliy and the correction, ill try to be more careful next time
 

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