Q.If y=2tan−1x+sin−1(1+x22x) for all x, then ____ <y< ____.
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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. …
Split by the standard identity for sin−1(1+x22x):
sin−1(1+x22x)=⎩⎨⎧2tan−1x,π−2tan−1x,−π−2tan−1x,∣x∣≤1x>1x<−1.
Adding 2tan−1x in each region:
- ∣x∣≤1: y=4tan−1x, and as x runs over [−1,1], tan−1x∈[−4π,4π], so y∈[−π,π].
- x>1: y=π.
- x<−1: y=−π. …
Case-splitting the identity for sin−1(1+x22x) gives y=4tan−1x on ∣x∣≤1, y=π for x>1, and y=−π for x<−1; so y ranges over [−π,π] and the blanks are −π and π.
The idea
sin−1(1+x22x) equals 2tan−1x only while ∣x∣≤1; beyond that the output is folded back into [−2π,2π], so the identity picks up a ±π. We handle the three regions separately.
Step 1 — The identity, by cases
With x=tanθ, 1+x22x=sin2θ, and reducing 2θ into [−2π,2π] gives
sin−1(1+x22x)=⎩⎨⎧2tan−1x,π−2tan−1x,−π−2tan−1x,∣x∣≤1x>1x<−1.
Step 2 — Form y in each region
∣x∣≤1: y=2tan−1x+2tan−1x=4tan−1x. As x increases from −1 to 1, tan−1x increases from −4π to 4π, so y increases continuously from −π to π.
x>1: y=2tan−1x+π−2tan−1x=π (constant). …
Method: Case-split the identity for sin−1(1+x22x)
Steps
Step 1: Remember the identity holds cleanly only for ∣x∣≤1.
sin−1(1+x22x)=⎩⎨⎧2tan−1x,π−2tan−1x,−π−2tan−1x,∣x∣≤1x>1x<−1 …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using sin−1(1+x22x)=2tan−1x for every x.
Why it's wrong: the identity leaves the principal range once ∣x∣>1, so a ±π correction is required. Correct approach: split into ∣x∣≤1, x>1, and x<−1. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 39 on this concept.
- CBSE 2020Set 65/2/11 markMCQQ.tan−13+tan−1λ=tan−1(1−3λ3+λ) is valid for what values of λ? (A) λ∈(−31, 31) (B) λ>31 (C) λ<31 (D) All real values of λ
›Reveal solutionSolution
The inverse tangent addition formula tan−1x+tan−1y=tan−11−xyx+y holds only when xy<1. Here x=3, y=λ, so the condition is 3λ<1, i.e. λ<31. The correct option is (C).
The formula you’ve written —
tan−13+tan−1λ=tan−1(1−3λ3+λ)
— is the standard inverse tangent addition identity, but it comes with a hidden condition. Many students apply it blindly, and that’s where mistakes happen.
Let’s understand why the condition exists.
The core idea: the range of tan−1 and the product condition
Recall that tan−1x (also written arctanx) gives an angle in (−2π,2π). So the sum of two such angles, tan−13+tan−1λ, lies in (−π,π).
The formula
tan−1x+tan−1y=tan−11−xyx+y
is derived from the tangent addition formula:
tan(A+B)=1−tanAtanBtanA+tanB
If we set A=tan−1x, B=tan−1y, then tan(A+B)=1−xyx+y.
But here’s the catch: tan−11−xyx+y always gives an angle in (−2π,2π). So the equality holds only when A+B itself lies in (−2π,2π).
When does A+B stay inside that interval? It turns out the cleanest condition is xy<1.
tan−1x+tan−1y=tan−11−xyx+yif and only ifxy<1
If xy=1, the denominator is zero — the formula breaks. If xy>1, then A+B falls outside (−2π,2π), and the right-hand side would give a different principal value (you’d need to add or subtract π).
Applying it to this problem
Here x=3 and y=λ. So the condition for the formula to be valid is:
-
Write the product condition:
xy<1⇒3λ<1
-
Solve for λ:
λ<31
That’s it. No further restrictions — λ can be any real number less than 31. …
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- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.tan−1(−31)=(a) 3π(b) 6π(c) −3π(d) −6π
›Reveal solutionSolution
tan−1(−31)=−6π.
The principal value of tan−1 lies in (−2π,2π).
We need the angle θ in this range with tanθ=−31.
…
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.2tan−131=(a) tan−123(b) tan−143(c) tan−134(d) tan−132
›Reveal solutionSolution
2tan−131=tan−143.
Use the double-angle identity valid for ∣x∣<1:
2tan−1x=tan−11−x22x.
Here x=31: …
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.x∈R, cot(tan−1x+cot−1x)=(a) 1(b) 21(c) 0(d) 31
›Reveal solutionSolution
cot(tan−1x+cot−1x)=cot2π=0.
For all real x, the complementary identity gives
tan−1x+cot−1x=2π.
Therefore …
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.tan−12+tan−13=(a) −4π(b) 4π(c) 43π(d) π
›Reveal solutionSolution
tan−12+tan−13=43π.
Use the addition formula. With a=2, b=3 we have ab=6>1, so
tan−1a+tan−1b=π+tan−11−aba+b.
Compute:
1−aba+b=1−65=−55=−1.
So …
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.tan−1yx−tan−1x+yx−y=(a) −43π(b) 2π(c) 4π(d) 3π
›Reveal solutionSolution
tan−1yx−tan−1x+yx−y=4π.
Use tan−1a−tan−1b=tan−11+aba−b with a=yx, b=x+yx−y.
Numerator:
a−b=yx−x+yx−y=y(x+y)x(x+y)−y(x−y)=y(x+y)x2+xy−xy+y2=y(x+y)x2+y2.
Denominator: …
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.∣x∣≤1, cos−1(1+x21−x2)=(a) 2cos−1x(b) 2sin−1x(c) 2tan−1x(d) tan−12x
›Reveal solutionSolution
cos−11+x21−x2=2tan−1x (for 0≤x≤1).
Put x=tanθ, so θ=tan−1x. Then
1+x21−x2=1+tan2θ1−tan2θ=cos2θ.
Therefore …
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.cot−1(tan7π)=(a) 7π(b) 145π(c) 149π(d) 143π
›Reveal solutionSolution
Convert the tangent to a cotangent using complementary angles; the answer is 145π.
Use tanθ=cot(2π−θ):
tan7π=cot(2π−7π)=cot147π−2π=cot145π.
…
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.tan−1(−3)=(a) 6π(b) 3π(c) 32π(d) −3π
›Reveal solutionSolution
tan−1 is an odd function with principal range (−2π,2π); the value is −3π.
Since tan3π=3 and tan−1(−x)=−tan−1x, …
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.tan−1(3)−cot−1(−3)=(a) 0(b) −2π(c) π(d) 2π
›Reveal solutionSolution
Evaluate each inverse function in its principal range and subtract; result −2π.
First, tan−1(3)=3π.
For cot−1(−3), the principal range of cot−1 is (0,π). We need cotθ=−3 with θ∈(0,π). Since cot6π=3,
cot−1(−3)=π−6π=65π.
…
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.tan−121+tan−131=(a) π(b) 4π(c) 2π(d) 3π
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use the sum formula for inverse tangents; the sum is 4π.
When xy<1, tan−1x+tan−1y=tan−11−xyx+y. Here xy=61<1, so …
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.tan{21(tan−1x+tan−1x1)}=(a) 1(b) 3(c) 0(d) ∞
›Reveal solutionSolution
tan−1x+tan−1x1=2π; half is 4π; tan4π=1.
For x>0 there is a standard identity:
tan−1x+tan−1x1=2π.
Taking half: …
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