Get comprehensive solutions to your questions with the help of IDNLearn.com's experts. Join our platform to receive prompt and accurate responses from experienced professionals in various fields.

Find the exact value of [tex]\tan 15^{\circ}[/tex] without the use of calculators.

Sagot :

To find the exact value of [tex]\(\tan 15^\circ\)[/tex] without using a calculator, we can use the tangent subtraction formula:
[tex]\[ \tan(A - B) = \frac{\tan A - \tan B}{1 + \tan A \tan B} \][/tex]

We choose [tex]\(A = 45^\circ\)[/tex] and [tex]\(B = 30^\circ\)[/tex]. Thus,
[tex]\[ \tan(15^\circ) = \tan(45^\circ - 30^\circ) \][/tex]

We know the exact values for [tex]\(\tan 45^\circ\)[/tex] and [tex]\(\tan 30^\circ\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ \tan 45^\circ = 1 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \tan 30^\circ = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} \][/tex]

Now, apply these values to the formula:
[tex]\[ \tan(15^\circ) = \frac{\tan 45^\circ - \tan 30^\circ}{1 + \tan 45^\circ \tan 30^\circ} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \tan(15^\circ) = \frac{1 - \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}}{1 + 1 \cdot \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}} \][/tex]

Next, let's simplify both the numerator and the denominator separately.

First, simplify the numerator:
[tex]\[ 1 - \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{\sqrt{3} - 1}{\sqrt{3}} \][/tex]

Now, simplify the denominator:
[tex]\[ 1 + 1 \cdot \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} = 1 + \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{\sqrt{3} + 1}{\sqrt{3}} \][/tex]

Next, we combine these simplified forms into the original formula:
[tex]\[ \tan(15^\circ) = \frac{\frac{\sqrt{3} - 1}{\sqrt{3}}}{\frac{\sqrt{3} + 1}{\sqrt{3}}} \][/tex]

Since both the numerator and the denominator are fractions with a common denominator of [tex]\(\sqrt{3}\)[/tex], we can simplify this to:
[tex]\[ \tan(15^\circ) = \frac{\sqrt{3} - 1}{\sqrt{3} + 1} \][/tex]

To rationalize the denominator, multiply both the numerator and the denominator by the conjugate of the denominator, [tex]\(\sqrt{3} - 1\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ \tan(15^\circ) = \frac{(\sqrt{3} - 1)(\sqrt{3} - 1)}{(\sqrt{3} + 1)(\sqrt{3} - 1)} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \tan(15^\circ) = \frac{(\sqrt{3} - 1)^2}{(\sqrt{3})^2 - (1)^2} \][/tex]

Now simplify the expression further:
[tex]\[ (\sqrt{3} - 1)^2 = (\sqrt{3})^2 - 2 \cdot \sqrt{3} \cdot 1 + 1^2 = 3 - 2\sqrt{3} + 1 = 4 - 2\sqrt{3} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ (\sqrt{3})^2 - (1)^2 = 3 - 1 = 2 \][/tex]

Thus:
[tex]\[ \tan(15^\circ) = \frac{4 - 2\sqrt{3}}{2} = \frac{4}{2} - \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{2} = 2 - \sqrt{3} \][/tex]

Finally, simplifying further:
[tex]\[ \tan(15^\circ) = \frac{\sqrt{3} - 1}{\sqrt{3} + 1} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3} - 1}{\sqrt{3} - 1} = 0.26794919243112264 \][/tex]

We find that the value of [tex]\(\tan 15^\circ\)[/tex] is approximately [tex]\(0.26794919243112264\)[/tex].
Thank you for contributing to our discussion. Don't forget to check back for new answers. Keep asking, answering, and sharing useful information. IDNLearn.com is your reliable source for accurate answers. Thank you for visiting, and we hope to assist you again.