Solve tan(4x) - tan(2x) = 0 for 0 < x < 2π

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Can't figure out this question, a little help would be great.

Solve for X, domain: 0<x<2pi

tan4X - tan2X = 0

What i got is that if we use the double angle formula to expand tan2X into

2tanx / 1-tan^2x

the u move it onto the other side and then somehow tan2x is = to tan4X, I'm very confused, please help.
 
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xLaser said:
Can't figure out this question, a little help would be great.

Solve for X, domain: 0<x<2pi

tan4X - tan2X = 0

What i got is that if we use the double angle formula to expand tan2X into

2tanx / 1-tan^2x

the u move it onto the other side and then somehow tan2x is = to tan4X, I'm very confused, please help.

for tan 4x you can set it up as tan 2(2x) = 2 tan2x/(1-(tan 2x)^2). Don't simplify tan 2x and just substitute the simplifed form of tan 4x into the equation. The equation is already set to 0 so just solve for x.

Edit: don't forget about the non-permissable values..
 
Last edited:
[tex]\tan 4x=\tan 2x[/tex] (1)

[tex]\tan 4x=\frac{2\tan 2x}{1-\tan^{2}2x}[/tex] (2)

Plug (2) in (1) and solve the eq.Be careful with the 5 points 0,pi/2,pi,3pi/2,2pi.

Daniel.
 
Hi,
You can use:
[tex]\tan 4x=\frac{2\tan 2x}{1-\tan^{2}2x}[/tex]
to solve the problem. Or use this way:
Since you know that: [tex]\tan{(x + Kpi)} = \tan{x}[/tex]
And [tex]\tan{4x} = \tan{2x}[/tex]
<=> [tex]4x - 2x = Kpi[/tex]
<=> [tex]2x = Kpi[/tex]
<=> [tex]x = K\frac{pi}{2}[/tex]
K = ...; -3; -2; -1; 0; 1; 2; 3;... (K belongs to Z)
And the rest you can do.
Viet Dao,
 
ah, i got it, its simply asking for what values of tan2x = 0 in 1 full revolution. Thx.

so technically you could simply do Tan4x - Tan 2X = tan 2X and then tan2x = 0