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Please help me solve this exercise.!!

find the value of tanx if sinx+cosx=1/5 and 0<x<π.


User Vvnraman
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1 Answer

6 votes

Answer: -4/3

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Step-by-step explanation:

Let's square both sides and do a bit of algebra to get the following.


\sin(x) + \cos(x) = 1/5\\\\\left(\sin(x) + \cos(x)\right)^2 = \left(1/5\right)^2\\\\\sin^2(x) + 2\sin(x)\cos(x) + \cos^2(x) = 1/25\\\\\sin^2(x) + \cos^2(x) + 2\sin(x)\cos(x) = 1/25\\\\1 + 2\sin(x)\cos(x) = 1/25\\\\\sin(2x) = 1/25 - 1\\\\\sin(2x) = 1/25 - 25/25\\\\\sin(2x) = -24/25\\\\

Now apply the pythagorean trig identity to determine cos(2x) based on this. You should find that cos(2x) = -7/25

This then means tan(2x) = sin(2x)/cos(2x) = 24/7.

From here, you'll use this trig identity


\tan(2x) = (2\tan(x))/(1-\tan^2(x))\\\\

which is the same as solving


\tan(2x) = (2w)/(1-w^2)\\\\

where w = tan(x)

Plug in tan(2x) = 24/7 and solve for w to get w = -4/3 or w = 3/4

So either tan(x) = -4/3 or tan(x) = 3/4.

If we were to numerically solve the original equation for x, then we'd get roughly x = 2.21; then notice how tan(2.21) = -1.345 approximately when your calculator is in radian mode.

Since tan(x) < 0 in this case, we go for tan(x) = -4/3

User Fwhacking
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