Given that tan 75 degrees=2+√3 without using a table or a calculator determine 5 tan 15 degrees leaving your answer in the form a+b√3

1 answer

We know that tan 75 degrees = 2+√3.

Using the identity tan (A+B) = (tan A + tan B) / (1 - tan A tan B), we can rewrite 75 degrees as (45 degrees + 30 degrees).

tan (45 degrees + 30 degrees) = (tan 45 degrees + tan 30 degrees) / (1 - tan 45 degrees * tan 30 degrees).

We know that tan 45 degrees = 1, and tan 30 degrees = 1/√3.

Substituting these values, we get:

tan (45 degrees + 30 degrees) = (1 + 1/√3) / (1 - 1 * 1/√3).

Simplifying the expression, we can multiply the numerator and denominator by √3 to eliminate the square root from the denominator:

= (√3 + 1) / (√3 - 1/√3)
= (√3 + 1) / (√3 - 1/√3)
= (√3 + 1) / (√3 - 1/√3) * (√3/√3)
= (√3 + √3) / (√3*√3 - 1)
= (2√3) / (3-1)
= (2√3) / 2
= √3

So, tan (75 degrees) = √3.

We are required to find 5 tan 15 degrees.

Using the identity tan (A-B) = (tan A - tan B) / (1 + tan A tan B), we can rewrite 15 degrees as (45 degrees - 30 degrees).

tan (45 degrees - 30 degrees) = (tan 45 degrees - tan 30 degrees) / (1 + tan 45 degrees * tan 30 degrees).

We know that tan 45 degrees = 1, and tan 30 degrees = 1/√3.

Substituting these values, we get:

tan (45 degrees - 30 degrees) = (1 - 1/√3) / (1 + 1 * 1/√3).

Simplifying the expression, we can multiply the numerator and denominator by √3 to eliminate the square root from the denominator:

= (√3 - 1) / (√3 + 1/√3)
= (√3 - 1) / (√3 + 1/√3)
= (√3 - 1) / (√3 + 1/√3) * (√3/√3)
= (√3 - √3) / (√3*√3 + 1)
= (0) / (3 + 1)
= 0

Therefore, 5 tan 15 degrees = 5 * 0 = 0.

The answer is 0.