What is the solution to cot(2x)=0.5(cot(x)-tg(x))?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the equation cot(2x) = 0.5(cot(x) - tg(x)), exploring various expressions and simplifications related to cotangent and arctangent functions. Participants engage in technical reasoning, clarifications on notation, and attempts to derive relationships between these trigonometric functions.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested, Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants emphasize the correct notation for functions, arguing that expressions like cot(arctan(x)) should not have spaces.
  • There is a discussion about the relationship between cotangent and tangent, with a participant stating that cot(θ) = 1/tan(θ).
  • One participant suggests using a right triangle to simplify expressions involving arctan(x), proposing that labeling the sides of the triangle could aid in understanding.
  • Another participant presents a complex equation to express cot(x) in terms of cot(2x), questioning its correctness and whether it was derived independently.
  • There is a suggestion that if cot(arctan(x)) is simple, then cot(0.5×arctan(x)) might also be simple, though this remains unverified.
  • Participants express uncertainty about the simplification of certain expressions and the correctness of their approaches.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of correct notation and the relationships between trigonometric functions, but there is no consensus on the correctness of the derived equations or the simplifications proposed.

Contextual Notes

Some expressions and relationships discussed may depend on specific definitions or assumptions about the functions involved, and there are unresolved mathematical steps in the proposed equations.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students or individuals interested in trigonometric identities, simplifications, and the proper notation of mathematical functions.

Sobhan
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The answer to Cot(arc tan x)
 
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Sobhan said:
The answer to Cot(arc tan x)

How else can you express \cot{\theta}? Also, arctan is a function and every function is only ever one word, so the way you should be writing this is \cot\left(\arctan(x)\right)
 
Cot(arc tan (x))?
 
Sobhan said:
Cot(arc tan (x))?

I was simply explaining that functions such as cot(x), arctan(x), sin(x), ln(x) etc. are always written without any spaces.

arc tan (x) is wrong
arctan(x) is right

cot(arc tan (x)) is wrong
cot(arctan(x)) is right

Ok, so now that we have that out of the way, let's go back to the problem at hand. You want to simplify \cot(\arctan(x)). Firstly, how else can you express \cot(x)? That function has a very obvious relationship with tan(x) because it was defined that way. What is it?
 
Strange, I suggested you should make a little drawing to understand the question, but it seems to have gone lost in transmission


ArxTangent.jpg
 
Do you not know that, by definition, cot(\theta)= \frac{1}{tan(\theta)}?
 
is it x^-1?
 
thanks for making me think.
 
  • #10
What is cot(0.5×arctan(x))
 
  • #11
Search for how else you can represent
\tan(\theta / 2)

and decide whether this can help you. Sometimes expressions can't be simplified further, but they can be transformed regardless.

To help you on this journey, you might also need to figure out how to simplify \sin(\arctan(x)) and \cos(\arctan(x)). The way you can do this is by drawing a right triangle, and then let one angle be \theta. This angle will actually be \arctan(x) though, which means that \theta=\arctan(x) hence \tan(\theta)=x. If \tan(\theta)=x then can you label every side of the triangle in terms of x?
 
  • #12
I have reached a equation to express cot(x) by cot(2x) and it is not an easy one the equation is this (2cot(2x)+(-)(4cot(2x)^2+4)^0.5))×2^-1
Is this right?
 
  • #13
Did you make a drawing again ?
 
  • #14
Sobhan said:
I have reached a equation to express cot(x) by cot(2x) and it is not an easy one the equation is this (2cot(2x)+(-)(4cot(2x)^2+4)^0.5))×2^-1
Is this right?

Did you derive that for yourself or take it from somewhere else? It also has an obvious common factor of 2 in the numerator and denominator.

BvU said:
Did you make a drawing again ?
Sorry BvU, I forgot all about your drawing further up. It could've saved me quite a bit of explaining in my last post if I just referred to your diagram.
 
  • #15
Is it clear to all that if ##\cot(\arctan x)## is a very simple expression, then perhaps ##\cot ({1\over 2} \arctan x)## mght also be a simple expression ?

[edit] LaTeX justifiably does not recognize atan as a mathematical function name. It indeed should be arctan (no space) and not atan as I first typed ... .:rolleyes:

[edit] woops, all wrong, sorry o:). Wake up first, then check alerts! Not the other way around.
 
Last edited:
  • #16
I got that from this : cot(2x)=0.5(cot(x)-tg(x))
 
  • #17
Sobhan said:
I got that from this : cot(2x)=0.5(cot(x)-tg(x))
It's definitely been a while since I've seen tg.

Ok awesome, so can you finish it off?
 

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