A geometry problem by A Former Brilliant Member

Geometry Level 3

tan x 2 + ( tan x 2 ) 2 + ( tan x 2 ) 3 + ( tan x 2 ) 4 + = 100 \dfrac{\tan x}2 + \left (\dfrac{\tan x}2 \right)^2+ \left (\dfrac{\tan x}2 \right)^3 + \left (\dfrac{\tan x}2 \right)^4 + \cdots = 100

Which of the following values represents the best possible approximation for the root to the equation above?

Clarification: Angles are measured in degrees.

60.2 5 60.25^\circ 4 5 45^\circ 63.2 0 63.20^\circ 68.8 5 68.85^\circ

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1 solution

Chew-Seong Cheong
Dec 22, 2016

tan x 2 + ( tan x 2 ) 2 + ( tan x 2 ) 3 + ( tan x 2 ) 4 + = 100 tan x 2 1 tan x 2 = 100 For tan x 2 < 1 tan x 2 = 100 100 tan x 2 tan x = 200 100 tan x tan x = 200 101 Note that tan x 2 < 1 x = tan 1 200 101 1.1032 rad 63.21 \begin{aligned} \frac{\tan x}2 + \left (\frac{\tan x}2 \right)^2+ \left (\frac{\tan x}2 \right)^3 + \left (\frac{\tan x}2 \right)^4 + \cdots & = 100 \\ \implies \frac {\frac {\tan x}2}{1-\frac {\tan x}2} & = 100 & \small \color{#3D99F6} \text{For } \left| \frac {\tan x}2 \right| < 1 \\ \frac {\tan x}2 & = 100 - 100 \frac {\tan x}2 \\ \tan x & = 200 - 100 \tan x \\ \tan x & = \frac {200}{101} & \small \color{#3D99F6} \text{Note that } \left| \frac {\tan x}2 \right| < 1 \\ \implies x & = \tan^{-1} \frac {200}{101} \\ & \approx 1.1032 \text{ rad} \\ & \approx \boxed{63.21}^\circ \end{aligned}

How you got to know the approximation in the last step?

Ravi Dwivedi - 4 years, 5 months ago

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You take tan 1 \tan^{-1} . I have included in the solution.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 4 years, 5 months ago

You need a calculator then. I was asking without the use of calculator.

Ravi Dwivedi - 4 years, 5 months ago

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I don't think it is the purpose of the problem and I don't want to learn it.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 4 years, 5 months ago

Okay. Thank you sir

Ravi Dwivedi - 4 years, 5 months ago

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