1. ## tan, cot

Hello,

I would be happy if someone showed me how to solve this question

a) By using the substitution t= tan 1/2 x
prove that cosec x - cot x = tan 1/2 x

b) Use this result to show that tan 15 degrees = 2 - sqrt(3)

2. Hello Oasis1993
Originally Posted by Oasis1993
Hello,

I would be happy if someone showed me how to solve this question

a) By using the substitution t= tan 1/2 x
prove that cosec x - cot x = tan 1/2 x

b) Use this result to show that tan 15 degrees = 2 - sqrt(3)

The following formulae are standard results when $\tan\tfrac12 x= t$:
$\sin x = \frac{2t}{1+t^2}, \cos x=\frac{1-t^2}{1+t^2}, \tan x = \frac{2t}{1-t^2}$
So for (a):
$\csc x - \cot x = \frac{1}{\sin x} - \frac{1}{\tan x}$
$=\frac{1+t^2}{2t}-\frac{1-t^2}{2t}$
I'm sure you can finish this now.

(b) We know from a $30^o-60^o-90^o$ triangle, that $\tan 30^o = \frac{1}{\sqrt3}$. So, if $t = \tan 15^o$:
$\frac{2t}{1-t^2}=\frac{1}{\sqrt3}$

$\Rightarrow 2\sqrt3t=1-t^2$

$\Rightarrow t^2 +2\sqrt3t-1=0$

$\Rightarrow t = \frac{-2\sqrt3 + \sqrt{(2\sqrt3)^2+4}}{2}$, using the quadratic formula, and taking the positive result since $\tan 15^o >0$
$=\frac{-2\sqrt3+\sqrt{16}}{2}$

$=2-\sqrt3$