Q.The value of sin(2tan−1(0.75)) is equal to
(A) 0.75
(B) 1.5
(C) 0.96
(D) sin1.5
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Inverse Tangent Identity
Inverse Tangent Identities
The inverse tangent function obeys a family of addition and doubling identities that let you combine two arctangents into one. They come straight from the tangent addition formula, but they carry conditions you must respect.
The core addition identity
Start from tan(A+B)=1−tanAtanBtanA+tanB. Put A=tan−1x and B=tan−1y, so tanA=x and tanB=y. Then
tan−1x+tan−1y=tan−1(1−xyx+y),xy<1.
The restriction xy<1 keeps the combined angle inside the principal range (−π/2,π/2).
If xy>1 the raw formula lands in the wrong branch, so you must correct it:
tan−1x+tan−1y=π+tan−1(1−xyx+y) (x,y>0),
and −π+tan−1(⋅) when x,y<0. Ignoring this is the classic exam slip.
Subtraction
Replacing y with −y gives
tan−1x−tan−1y=tan−1(1+xyx−y),xy>−1.
The doubling identity
Set y=x in the addition formula:
2tan−1x=tan−1(1−x22x),−1<x<1.
The same angle can also be rewritten through sine and cosine, which is handy in integration and in proofs -- but each alternate form only matches 2tan−1x on part of its domain, so the two forms carry different conditions:
2tan−1x=sin−1(1+x22x),−1≤x≤1,
2tan−1x=cos−1(1+x21−x2),x≥0.
The cos−1 form needs x≥0 -- it fails for negative x. Check x=−1: 2tan−1(−1)=2(−4π)=−2π, but cos−1(1+11−1)=cos−1(0)=2π, the wrong sign entirely. The sin−1 form has no such restriction because sin−1 (unlike cos−1) can return a negative angle.
The complementary identity
For every real x,
tan−1x+cot−1x=2π.
This holds without restriction because tan−1 and cot−1 of the same value are complementary angles. …
Concept: Inverse Tangent Identity — use the double-angle formula for sine in terms of tanθ, then substitute θ=tan−1(0.75).
Let θ=tan−1(0.75), so tanθ=0.75=43.
We need sin(2θ). Recall:
sin2θ=1+tan2θ2tanθ
Substitute tanθ=43: …
Use the double-angle identity for sine in terms of tangent: sin(2θ)=1+tan2θ2tanθ. Let θ=tan−1(0.75), so tanθ=0.75. Then sin(2tan−1(0.75))=1+(0.75)22(0.75)=1+0.56251.5=1.56251.5=0.96. The answer is 0.96, option (C).
When you see an expression like sin(2tan−1x), the instinct should be to reach for a formula that connects sine of a double angle directly to the tangent of the original angle. Why? Because the inverse tangent gives you an angle whose tangent you know exactly — here, tanθ=0.75. But sine of twice that angle isn't immediately obvious from just the tangent value. You could draw a right triangle, find the hypotenuse, then compute sinθ and cosθ, and finally use sin2θ=2sinθcosθ. That works, but the identity below is faster and avoids square roots entirely.
sin(2θ)=1+tan2θ2tanθ
This identity comes from writing sin2θ=2sinθcosθ and then dividing numerator and denominator by cos2θ:
sin2θ=12sinθcosθ=sec2θ2tanθ=1+tan2θ2tanθ.
It's valid whenever cosθ=0, which is true here since tanθ=0.75 is finite.
Now let's apply it step by step.
-
Set the angle.
Let θ=tan−1(0.75). By definition, tanθ=0.75 and θ lies in (−2π,2π) — specifically in the first quadrant since 0.75>0.
-
Plug into the double-angle identity.
We want sin(2θ). Using the formula:
sin(2θ)=1+tan2θ2tanθ=1+(0.75)22×0.75.
-
Compute the numerator and denominator.
Numerator: 2×0.75=1.5.
Denominator: 1+(0.75)2=1+0.5625=1.5625.
-
Divide.
1.56251.5=0.96.
You can verify: 1.5625×0.96=1.5, so it's exact. …
Method: Evaluating sin (or cos) of a multiple of an inverse-tangent angle
For sin(2tan−1t) and similar, use a double-angle identity written directly in terms of tanθ, so you never need square roots or a triangle.
Steps
Step 1: Name the angle.
Let θ=tan−1t, so tanθ=t and θ∈(−2π,2π). The target is sin2θ.
Step 2: Use the tangent-form double-angle identity.
Instead of sin2θ=2sinθcosθ, use the version that depends only on tanθ:
sin2θ=1+tan2θ2tanθ,cos2θ=1+tan2θ1−tan2θ.
This follows from dividing 2sinθcosθ by sin2θ+cos2θ=1 and then by cos2θ. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Treating sin(2tan−10.75) as 2sin(tan−10.75).
Why it's wrong: the 2 multiplies the angle, not the sine; sine is not linear. Correct approach: use the double-angle identity sin2θ=1+tan2θ2tanθ.
Mistake 2: Answering 1.5 (just 2×0.75) or 0.75 (the tangent itself). …
Showing the 12 most recent of 34 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.sin[2tan−1(21)+sin−1(53)]= (A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 21 (D) 23
›Reveal solutionSolution
Convert both inverse-trig terms into a single angle's sine/cosine using right-triangle ratios, then apply the sine addition formula; the sum evaluates neatly to 1.
Concept and Intuition
When adding two inverse trig angles, the cleanest approach is to name each one, extract its sine and cosine from the implied right triangle, then use the standard addition formula sin(A+B)=sinAcosB+cosAsinB — never try to add the angles numerically.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let φ=tan−1(21). In a right triangle, opposite =1, adjacent =2, hypotenuse =5.
- Use the double-angle identity tan2φ=1−tan2φ2tanφ=1−(1/4)2(1/2)=3/41=34.
- Since φ∈(0,π/4) (as tanφ=1/2<1), 2φ∈(0,π/2), so this is a genuine first-quadrant angle: with opposite 4, adjacent 3, hypotenuse 5, giving sin2φ=4/5, cos2φ=3/5.
- Let ψ=sin−1(3/5), so sinψ=3/5 and (principal branch, first quadrant) cosψ=4/5. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-FN1 markMCQQ.sin(2tan−1(31))+cos(tan−122)= (A) 1516 (B) 1514 (C) 1511 (D) 158
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests reading sine/cosine of an inverse-tangent angle off a right triangle, then applying the double-angle sine formula. The sum evaluates to 14/15.
Concept and Intuition
Given tan−1(p/q), build the right triangle with opposite p, adjacent q, hypotenuse p2+q2; then any trig function of that angle is a direct ratio of the triangle's sides. This avoids working with inverse functions directly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let α=tan−1(1/3): right triangle with opposite 1, adjacent 3, hypotenuse 1+9=10. So sinα=101, cosα=103.
- sin2α=2sinαcosα=2⋅101⋅103=106=53. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-AN1 markMCQQ.Tan−1(−2)−Tan−1(3) is equal to (A) 43π (B) 6−π (C) 6π (D) 4−3π
›Reveal solutionSolution
Convert to −(tan−12+tan−13) and apply the addition formula (with the +π correction since ab>1) to get −43π.
Concept and Intuition
tan−1 is an odd function, so tan−1(−x)=−tan−1(x). The standard addition formula tan−1a+tan−1b=tan−11−aba+b needs a +π correction whenever a,b>0 and ab>1, because then the true sum exceeds π/2 while the raw arctan formula would return a negative principal value.
Step-by-Step Solution
- tan−1(−2)=−tan−1(2), so the expression becomes −tan−1(2)−tan−1(3).
- Compute tan−12+tan−13. Here a=2,b=3, ab=6>1, both positive, so use tan−1a+tan−1b=π+tan−11−aba+b.
- 1−aba+b=1−65=−55=−1, and tan−1(−1)=−4π. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.tan−115+18−215+tan−151= (A) 6π (B) 4π (C) 3π (D) 2π
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests simplifying a nested surd inside an inverse trig function, then adding two inverse-tangent values. The answer is (A).
Concept and Intuition
A nested surd of the form a+b−2ab always simplifies to ∣a−b∣. Recognizing 8−215 as this form with a=5,b=3 turns an ugly expression into a clean one, after which the sum of the two arctangents can be identified as a standard angle.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Write 8−215=5+3−25⋅3=(5−3)2, so 8−215=5−3 (positive since 5>3).
- The first term becomes tan−115+15−3.
- Numerically: 5≈2.236, 3≈1.732, 15≈3.873. So the argument ≈4.8730.504≈0.1034, giving the first term ≈5.91°. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.The value of x such that sin(2tan−143)=cos(2tan−1x) is (A) 7 (B) 73 (C) 71 (D) 74
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests the tangent double-angle formulas for both sine and cosine. Answer: x=1/7.
Concept and Intuition
Both sides are "double angle of an inverse tangent," so express each side purely in terms of the tangent using sin2θ=1+t22t and cos2ϕ=1+x21−x2 (both derivable from a right triangle with opposite/adjacent =t or x).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let θ=tan−1(3/4), so tanθ=3/4.
- sin2θ=1+tan2θ2tanθ=1+9/162(3/4)=25/163/2=23⋅2516=2524.
- Let ϕ=tan−1x, so cos2ϕ=1+x21−x2.
- Equation: 1+x21−x2=2524. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.sin(Tan−11712+Tan−1295)= (A) 1 (B) 21 (C) 23 (D) 21
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests the sine-addition formula built from two inverse-tangent right triangles; the arithmetic collapses very neatly since 866=2×433.
Concept and Intuition
tan−11712 is the angle of a right triangle with opposite 12, adjacent 17, hypotenuse 122+172=433. Similarly tan−1295 gives a triangle with hypotenuse 52+292=866. Once we have sin and cos of both angles, the sum formula does the rest — no need to ever find the angles themselves.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let A=tan−11712: sinA=43312, cosA=43317 (since 122+172=144+289=433).
- Let B=tan−1295: sinB=8665, cosB=86629 (since 52+292=25+841=866).
- sin(A+B)=sinAcosB+cosAsinB=43386612(29)+17(5)=433⋅866348+85=433⋅866433. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-20-FN1 markMCQQ.4tan−151−tan−1701+tan−1991= (A) 12π (B) 6π (C) 4π (D) 3π
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a Machin-like arctangent identity that evaluates exactly to π/4.
Concept and Intuition
Sums/differences of tan−1 terms with small reciprocal arguments often combine (via repeated use of tan−1p−tan−1q=tan−11+pqp−q and the double/quadruple-angle formula for tangent) into a single nice angle like π/4. These are the classical 'Machin-type' formulas historically used to compute π.
Step-by-Step Solution
- First combine 4tan−151 using the double-angle formula for tan twice: with tanα=51, tan2α=1−2512⋅51=24/252/5=125, and tan4α=1−144252⋅125=119/1445/6=119120.
- So 4tan−151=tan−1119120 (in the correct quadrant, since 119120 is only slightly bigger than 1, the angle is just over π/4).
- Now combine tan−1119120−tan−1701 using tan−1p−tan−1q=tan−11+pqp−q: numerator 119120−701=119⋅70120⋅70−119=83308400−119=83308281; denominator 1+119⋅70120=1+8330120=83308450. Ratio =84508281. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.If 21sin−1(5+4cos2θ3sin2θ)=tan−1x then x= (A) tan3θ (B) 31tanθ (C) tan3θ (D) 31tan3θ
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewrite the inverse-sine argument as sin(2ϕ) for a suitable tanϕ built from tanθ, so the half of the inverse sine collapses to tan−1 of that quantity directly. Answer: x=31tanθ.
Concept and Intuition
Expressions of the form A+Bcos2θksin2θ can often be massaged, after dividing through by (1+tan2θ) i.e. converting to t=tanθ, into the recognizable double-angle sine pattern 1+u22u=sin(2tan−1u) for some rescaled variable u. Spotting this pattern converts an awkward inverse-trig expression into a clean angle.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let t=tanθ. Recall sin2θ=1+t22t, cos2θ=1+t21−t2.
- Numerator: 3sin2θ=1+t26t.
- Denominator: 5+4cos2θ=5+1+t24(1−t2)=1+t25(1+t2)+4(1−t2)=1+t29+t2.
- So the ratio is (9+t2)/(1+t2)6t/(1+t2)=9+t26t.
- Let u=t/3. Then 1+u22u=1+t2/92t/3=(9+t2)/92t/3=9+t26t — exactly matches!
- So 9+t26t=sin(2ϕ) where tanϕ=u=t/3, i.e. ϕ=tan−1(3tanθ). …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-AN1 markMCQQ.Tan−1(21)+Tan−1(81)+Tan−1(181)+Tan−1(321)= (A) Tan−1(53) (B) Tan−1(85) (C) Tan−1(43) (D) Tan−1(54)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Recognize the telescoping identity tan−12n21=tan−12n−11−tan−12n+11; the four given terms (n=1,2,3,4) telescope down to tan−11−tan−191=tan−154.
Concept and Intuition
The denominators 2,8,18,32 are exactly 2⋅12, 2⋅22, 2⋅32, 2⋅42 — a strong hint to use the identity tan−1a−tan−1b=tan−11+aba−b in reverse: for consecutive odd-reciprocal terms 2n−11 and 2n+11, their difference is exactly tan−12n21. This turns the whole sum into a telescoping series where all the intermediate terms cancel.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Verify the identity for general n: 1+(2n−1)(2n+1)12n−11−2n+11=4n2−14n2−1+14n2−12=4n22=2n21. So tan−12n21=tan−12n−11−tan−12n+11.
- Apply with n=1,2,3,4:
- tan−121=tan−11−tan−131
- tan−181=tan−131−tan−151
- tan−1181=tan−151−tan−171
- tan−1321=tan−171−tan−191
- Summing all four, the intermediate terms tan−131,tan−151,tan−171 cancel in pairs (telescoping), leaving: …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-19-AN1 markMCQQ.dxd(Tan−1(1+sinxcosx))= (A) 21 (B) 2−1 (C) 1 (D) −1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Simplify the argument to a single tangent of a half-angle expression, then differentiate. Answer: −21.
Concept and Intuition
Expressions like 1+sinxcosx are classic half-angle simplifications that collapse to tan(4π−2x), letting the inverse tangent cancel with the tangent directly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Multiply numerator and denominator by (1−sinx): 1+sinxcosx=1−sin2xcosx(1−sinx)=cos2xcosx(1−sinx)=cosx1−sinx.
- This is a known identity: cosx1−sinx=tan(4π−2x). …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-AN1 markMCQQ.tan(2Tan−1(31)+Tan−1(71))= (A) 31 (B) 3 (C) 1 (D) 3/7
›Reveal solutionSolution
First reduce the double-angle inverse-tangent term to a single tangent value using the tangent double-angle formula, then combine with the second tan−1 term using the tangent addition formula. The result is exactly 1.
Concept and Intuition
Expressions like tan(2tan−1x+tan−1y) are handled in two stages: first collapse 2tan−1x to a single angle whose tangent is known via the double-angle formula tan2α=1−tan2α2tanα, then treat the whole thing as tan(α′+β) using the standard addition formula, where α′ is the angle with tanα′=tan(2tan−1x).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let α=tan−1(1/3), so tanα=1/3. Then tan2α=1−tan2α2tanα=1−1/92/3=8/92/3=32×89=2418=43.
- Let β=tan−1(1/7), so tanβ=1/7.
- We need tan(2α+β)=1−tan2αtanβtan2α+tanβ=1−43⋅7143+71. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-25-AN1 markMCQQ.What is the value of Sin−11312+Cos−154+Tan−11663= (A) π (B) 2π (C) 6π (D) 43π
›Reveal solutionSolution
The three inverse-trig terms telescope to exactly π because the first two sum to 180∘ minus the third.
Concept and Intuition
sin−11312 is the acute angle with sine 1312, cosine 135, tangent 512. cos−154 is the acute angle with cosine 54, sine 53, tangent 43. Adding two acute angles whose tangent-sum formula gives a negative tangent tells us their sum exceeds 90∘ — a classic trick for handling sums of inverse trig terms without a calculator.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let α=sin−11312 (so tanα=512) and β=cos−154 (so tanβ=43).
- tan(α+β)=1−tanαtanβtanα+tanβ=1−512⋅43512+43=−20162063=−1663.
- Since α≈67.4∘,β≈36.9∘, their sum α+β≈104.3∘∈(90∘,180∘), where tangent is negative — consistent. …
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