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Solve: tan2x + tan x = 0

  1. Apr 23, 2009 #1

    rought

    rought 34

    1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

    Solve: tan2x + tan x = 0


    I have no idea on how to solve this one =/
     
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  3. Apr 23, 2009 #2

    Hootenanny

    Hootenanny 9,681
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    Well what do you think a good first step would be?
     
  4. Apr 23, 2009 #3

    berkeman

    berkeman 42,910

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    My first inclination would be to take the graph of tan(x), and look visually for a solution (there are likely more than one, but I'd look for the first with x>0.

    Then I'd try to use the definition of tan(x) in terms of right triangles to try to get an intuition for how to solve it. If necessary, I'd look into trig substitutions to help solve it, but you might be able to just do it with triangles.

    Give it a go....
     
  5. Apr 23, 2009 #4

    Hootenanny

    Hootenanny 9,681
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    I think that this would be the best way to proceed. There's a very simple trig identity that would let you solve it very quickly ... :wink:
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 23, 2009
  6. Apr 23, 2009 #5

    rought

    rought 34

    oo would I use the trig identity of: tan(2x) = 2tanx/1-tan^2x ?

    how would that factor out though =/ ?
     
  7. Apr 23, 2009 #6

    dx

    dx 1,964
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    Factor out tan(x).
     
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