Inverse Trigonometry of Complex Numbers? Really?

Calculus Level 5

{ P = tan 1 ( α ) α + tan 1 ( β ) β + tan 1 ( γ ) γ . . Q = n = 0 ( 1 ) n 6 n + 1 \large{\begin{cases} P = \dfrac{\tan^{-1}(\alpha)}{\alpha} + \dfrac{\tan^{-1}(\beta)}{\beta} + \dfrac{\tan^{-1}(\gamma)}{\gamma} \\ \text{ . } \\ \text{ . } \\ Q = \displaystyle \sum_{n=0}^\infty \dfrac{(-1)^n}{6n+1} \end{cases} }

If α , β , γ \alpha, \ \beta, \ \gamma are the three cube roots of unity, submit the value of P Q \dfrac{P}{Q} as your answer.


The answer is 3.

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1 solution

Kartik Sharma
Sep 8, 2015

It is a very easy problem in disguise. First of all it is rated in Geometry which is truly a disguise.

We will use the Taylor series for t a n 1 ( x ) = k = 0 ( 1 ) k x 2 k + 1 2 k + 1 \displaystyle {tan}^{-1}(x) = \sum_{k=0}^{\infty}{\dfrac{(-1)^k {x}^{2k+1}}{2k+1}}

We will replace α , β , γ \alpha, \beta, \gamma with 1 , ω , ω 2 1, \omega, {\omega}^{2} [just a little easy to move with them)

Then,

P = k = 0 ( 1 ) k 1 2 k 2 k + 1 + k = 0 ( 1 ) k ω 2 k + 1 ω ( 2 k + 1 ) + k = 0 ( 1 ) k ω 2 2 k + 1 ω 2 ( 2 k + 1 ) \displaystyle P = \sum_{k=0}^{\infty}{\dfrac{(-1)^k {1}^{2k}}{2k+1}} + \sum_{k=0}^{\infty}{\dfrac{(-1)^k {\omega}^{2k+1}}{\omega (2k+1)}} + \sum_{k=0}^{\infty}{\dfrac{(-1)^k {\omega^2}^{2k+1}}{\omega^2 (2k+1)}}

P = k = 0 ( 1 ) k 2 k + 1 ( 1 + ω 2 k + ω k ) \displaystyle P = \sum_{k=0}^{\infty}{\dfrac{(-1)^k}{2k+1} (1 + {\omega}^{2k} + {\omega}^{k})}

( 1 + ω 2 k + ω k ) \displaystyle (1 + {\omega}^{2k} + {\omega}^{k}) will give a nonzero answer(equal to 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 ) only for k = 3 n k = 3n for some integer n n , rest for all integers it becomes equal to 0 0 [You can prove that by induction and even by De Moivre]

Hence, our sum would become

P = 3 n = 0 ( 1 ) k 2 ( 3 n ) + 1 = 3 n = 0 ( 1 ) k 6 n + 1 \displaystyle P = 3 \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}{\dfrac{(-1)^k}{2(3n)+1}} = 3 \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}{\dfrac{(-1)^k}{6n+1}}

And as a result, P Q = 3 \frac{P}{Q} = 3 .

Haha! Good Job! :P

Satyajit Mohanty - 5 years, 9 months ago

Same solutions

Abhinav Shripad - 1 year, 4 months ago

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