Q.Find the value of the following: sin−1178+sin−153=tan−13677
🔒You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.
🔒 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 – Convert each sin−1 to tan−1 using a right-triangle, then apply the sum formula for tan−1.
Let α=sin−1178 and β=sin−153.
For α: sinα=178, so cosα=1715 (by Pythagoras). Hence tanα=158.
For β: sinβ=53, so cosβ=54. Hence tanβ=43.
Now use the sum formula: …
The sum of the two inverse sines simplifies to an inverse tangent using the identity sin−1x+sin−1y=tan−11−x21−y2−xyx1−y2+y1−x2, and after substitution and simplification, the result matches tan−13677.
We need to verify that sin−1178+sin−153=tan−13677. The direct approach is to convert each inverse sine into an inverse tangent, then use the tangent addition formula. This works because inverse sine values correspond to angles in a right triangle, and we can find their tangents easily.
Let’s set:
- α=sin−1178, so sinα=178.
- β=sin−153, so sinβ=53.
Both α and β lie in [−2π,2π], and since the sine values are positive, they are in (0,2π). So we can safely use the standard right-triangle interpretation.
-
Find cosα and cosβ
For α: sinα=178 means opposite = 8, hypotenuse = 17. By Pythagoras, adjacent = 172−82=289−64=225=15.
Hence cosα=1715 (positive, since α is acute).
For β: sinβ=53 gives opposite = 3, hypotenuse = 5, adjacent = 25−9=16=4.
So cosβ=54.
-
Find tanα and tanβ
tanα=cosαsinα=15/178/17=158.
tanβ=4/53/5=43.
-
Use the tangent addition formula
We want tan(α+β):
tan(α+β)=1−tanαtanβtanα+tanβ
Substitute:
tan(α+β)=1−158⋅43158+43
- Simplify numerator and denominator Numerator: 158+43=6032+6045=6077. Denominator: 1−158⋅43=1−6024=1−52=53. So:
tan(α+β)=3/577/60=6077×35=60×377×5=180385=3677
- Check the range …
Method: Combining a sum of inverse sines into a single inverse tangent
Use this for identities of the form sin−1a+sin−1b=tan−1c.
Steps
Step 1: Convert each inverse sine to a tangent via a right triangle.
From sinα=a build a triangle (opposite a, hypotenuse 1), find the adjacent side by Pythagoras, and read tanα. Do the same for β.
Step 2: Apply the tangent addition formula.
tan(α+β)=1−tanαtanβtanα+tanβ.
The simplified value is the argument of the target tan−1. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Writing sin−1178+sin−153=sin−1(178+53).
Why it's wrong: inverse sine is not additive; you cannot add the arguments. Correct approach: convert each to a tangent and use the tangent addition formula.
Mistake 2: Skipping the range check on α+β. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 34 on this concept.
- 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 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 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 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 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. …
- 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 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 2021Set eng-2021-08-23-FN1 markMCQQ.If θ=2tan−181+2tan−151+tan−171 and tan2θ=m+n where m and n are positive integers such that m<n then (mn+nm)m+n= (A) 18 (B) 27 (C) 25 (D) 36
›Reveal solutionSolution
Simplifying the sum of inverse tangents gives θ=π/4, so tan(θ/2)=tan(π/8)=2−1; with m=1,n=2 this gives (mn+nm)m+n=27.
Concept and Intuition
Repeated use of the tangent addition formula tan−1a+tan−1b=tan−1(1−aba+b) collapses the sum of arctangents into a single, simple angle.
Step-by-Step Solution
- tan−181+tan−151=tan−1(1−1/401/8+1/5)=tan−1(39/4013/40)=tan−131.
- So 2tan−181+2tan−151=2tan−131.
- Double-angle: tan(2tan−131)=1−912⋅31=8/92/3=43, so 2tan−131=tan−143.
- θ=tan−143+tan−171=tan−1(1−3/283/4+1/7)=tan−1(25/2825/28)=tan−1(1)=4π. …
- 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-2021-08-20-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-2025-05-26-FN1 markMCQQ.If θ=Tan−1(31)+Tan−1(71)+Tan−1(131)+Tan−1(211)+Tan−1(311), then tanθ= (A) 53 (B) 1 (C) 75 (D) 97
›Reveal solutionSolution
Recognizing 3,7,13,21,31 as the sequence n2+n+1 turns each arctan term into a telescoping difference arctan(n+1)−arctann. Answer: tanθ=5/7.
Concept and Intuition
The telescoping arctan identity arctan(n+1)−arctann=arctan1+n(n+1)1=arctann2+n+11 turns a long sum of small-angle arctangents into just the first and last terms — a huge simplification once the denominators are recognized as n2+n+1.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Check the denominators: for n=1,2,3,4,5, n2+n+1=3,7,13,21,31 — exactly matching the given series.
- Use tan−1(n+1)−tan−1n=tan−11+n(n+1)(n+1)−n=tan−1n2+n+11.
- So θ=n=1∑5[tan−1(n+1)−tan−1n], which telescopes: all middle terms cancel, leaving θ=tan−16−tan−11.
- tan−11=π/4, so θ=tan−16−π/4. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-18-AN1 markMCQQ.Match the items of List - I with those of List - II List - I: A. Tan−13+Tan−1x=Tan−18⇒x= B. Sin−1x−Cos−1x=6π⇒x= C. Sin−154+2Tan−131= D. tan(Sec−1x1)=sin(Tan−12),x>0⇒x= List - II: I. 35 II. 51 III. 23 IV. 2π V. 3π The Correct Match is: (A) A-I, B-III, C-V, D-IV (B) A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I (C) A-III, B-II, C-IV, D-V (D) A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-V
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a match-the-column on inverse trig identities. Answer: A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I.
Concept and Intuition
Each item reduces via a standard inverse-trig identity: the tangent-addition formula, the complementary relation sin−1x+cos−1x=π/2, the double-angle formula for tan−1, and converting sec−1/tan−1 expressions into a right-triangle ratio.
Step-by-Step Solution
A. tan−13+tan−1x=tan−18. Take tangent of both sides: 1−3x3+x=8⇒3+x=8−24x⇒25x=5⇒x=51. Matches II.
B. sin−1x−cos−1x=6π, and always sin−1x+cos−1x=2π. Adding: 2sin−1x=2π+6π=32π⇒sin−1x=3π⇒x=sin3π=23. Matches III.
C. sin−154=tan−134 (right triangle with opposite 4, hypotenuse 5, adjacent 3). Also 2tan−131: using tan2θ=1−tan2θ2tanθ=1−1/92/3=8/92/3=43, so 2tan−131=tan−143. Sum =tan−134+tan−143; since 34×43=1 (reciprocal tangents), this sum is 2π. Matches IV. …
🎓Unlock everything free for 14 days
- ✓Full step-by-step solutions
- ✓Concept-first explanations
- ✓Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
- ✓PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.