Q.Find dxdy in the following: y=tan−1(1−3x23x−x3),−31<x<31
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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. …
Concept: Inverse Tangent Identity — the expression matches the tangent triple-angle formula, letting the inverse tangent be simplified before differentiating.
Step 1: Let x=tanθ. Since tan3θ=1−3tan2θ3tanθ−tan3θ,
1−3x23x−x3=tan3θ,y=tan−1(tan3θ). …
Substituting x=tanθ and using the tangent triple-angle identity simplifies y to 3tan−1x within the given domain; differentiating gives dxdy=1+x23.
Recognising the Identity
A cubic numerator over a quadratic denominator, with these specific coefficients (3x−x3 over 1−3x2), is the signature of the tangent triple-angle formula:
tan3θ=1−3tan2θ3tanθ−tan3θ.
Setting x=tanθ turns the given expression into tan3θ, but tan−1(tan3θ) only equals 3θ when 3θ lies in the principal range of tan−1 — the given domain on x is exactly what guarantees this.
Step-by-Step Solution
1. Substitute x=tanθ.
Let θ=tan−1x, so θ∈(−2π,2π). Then:
1−3x23x−x3=1−3tan2θ3tanθ−tan3θ=tan3θ⇒y=tan−1(tan3θ).
2. Use the given domain to pin down the range of 3θ.
We are told −31<x<31. Since tan6π=31 and tan is increasing on (−2π,2π):
−6π<θ<6π⇒−2π<3θ<2π.
3. Simplify using the principal range of tan−1.
Since 3θ already lies inside (−2π,2π), the principal range of tan−1, no adjustment by π is needed: …
Method: Recognising the Triple-Angle Pattern in an Inverse-Tangent Expression
Some inverse-tangent expressions hide the triple-angle tangent identity rather than the double-angle one — the giveaway is a cubic numerator paired with a quadratic denominator with alternating signs.
Steps
Step 1: Compare the expression's shape against the triple-angle formula
tan3θ=1−3tan2θ3tanθ−tan3θ.
A numerator of the form 3(⋅)−(⋅)3 over a denominator 1−3(⋅)2 is this identity, not the double-angle one (1−x22x).
Step 2: Substitute x=tanθ
This turns the fraction into tan3θ exactly, so the expression becomes y=tan−1(tan3θ).
Step 3: Translate the given x-domain into a θ-domain, then a 3θ-domain
Since tanθ is strictly increasing on (−2π,2π), an inequality on x=tanθ converts directly to the same inequality on θ; multiplying through by 3 gives the range of 3θ.
Step 4: Check 3θ against tan−1's principal range before cancelling …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Confusing the triple-angle pattern with the double-angle one
Because both patterns involve x=tanθ, it's easy to misapply the double-angle formula 1−x22x to an expression that's actually the triple-angle form 1−3x23x−x3. Why it's wrong: using the wrong identity gives an entirely different (and incorrect) angle. Correct approach: check the powers carefully — a cubic numerator over a quadratic denominator with a factor of 3 signals the triple-angle identity, tan3θ, not the double-angle one.
Mistake 2: Skipping the range check because the answer "looks clean" …
Showing the 12 most recent of 23 on this concept.
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04224 marksMCQQ.The value of tan−1(3cosx+sinxcosx−3sinx), where 0<x<2π is (A) 6π−x (B) 4π−x (C) 3π−x (D) 2π−x (E) π−x
›Reveal solutionSolution
Recognize numerator and denominator as 2cos and 2sin of (x+3π).
Numerator: cosx−3sinx=2(21cosx−23sinx)=2cos(x+3π).
Denominator: 3cosx+sinx=2(23cosx+21sinx)=2sin(x+3π). …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04234 marksMCQQ.If f(x)=tan−1(1−x22x), then f(31) is equal to (A) 6π (B) 32π (C) 3π (D) 34π (E) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using tan^-1(2x/(1-x^2)) = 2 tan^-1 x for |x|<1, f(1/sqrt3) = 2*(pi/6) = pi/3.
Concept and Intuition
The identity 2 tan^-1 x = tan^-1(2x/(1-x^2)) holds for |x| < 1. Since 1/sqrt3 < 1, the formula applies directly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- f(x) = tan^-1(2x/(1-x^2)) = 2 tan^-1 x for |x| < 1.
- tan^-1(1/sqrt3) = pi/6.
- f(1/sqrt3) = 2 * pi/6 = pi/3. …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04264 marksMCQQ.If tan−1x=tan−1(3)−4π, then x is equal to (A) 21 (B) 41 (C) 1 (D) 3 (E) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Write 4π=tan−11 and use the subtraction formula: tan−13−tan−11=tan−121⇒x=21.
Apply the identity. tan−1a−tan−1b=tan−11+aba−b with a=3,b=1: …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04294 marksMCQQ.If tan−12x+tan−13x=4π, then the value of x is equal to (A) 61 (B) 41 (C) 31 (D) 21 (E) 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
tan−12x+tan−13x=4π gives 1−6x25x=1, i.e. 6x2+5x−1=0; roots x=61,−1, and only x=61 satisfies the equation. …
- KEAM 2023Set eng-2023-P2-B24 marksMCQQ.The value of tan−1(3)−sec−1(32) is (A) 32π (B) 4π (C) 3π (D) 2π (E) 6π
›Reveal solutionSolution
tan^-1(sqrt3) = pi/3 and sec^-1(2/sqrt3) = pi/6, so the difference is pi/6.
Concept and Intuition
Both are standard angles: tan(pi/3) = sqrt3, and sec(pi/6) = 1/cos(pi/6) = 2/sqrt3.
Step-by-Step Solution
- tan^-1(sqrt3) = pi/3.
- sec^-1(2/sqrt3): cos of the angle = sqrt3/2, so the angle = pi/6. …
- KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06084 marksMCQQ.tan−12−tan−1(31) is equal to (A) 2π (B) 3π (C) 4π (D) 6π (E) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Apply the subtraction formula tan−1a−tan−1b=tan−11+aba−b.
With a=2, b=31: …
- KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06084 marksMCQQ.If 3tan−1x+cot−1x=π then sin−1x is (A) 12π (B) 3π (C) 4π (D) 6π (E) 2π
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use tan−1x+cot−1x=2π to reduce the equation and solve for x=1.
Given 3tan−1x+cot−1x=π. Split off the identity term:
3tan−1x+cot−1x=2tan−1x+(tan−1x+cot−1x)=2tan−1x+2π. …
- KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06064 marksMCQQ.If a=tan−1(34) and b=tan−1(31), where 0<a,b<2π, then a−b= (A) tan−1(3) (B) tan−1(133) (C) tan−1(5) (D) tan−1(139) (E) tan−1(135)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Apply the arctangent subtraction formula.
With tana=34 and tanb=31:
tan(a−b)=1+tanatanbtana−tanb=1+34⋅3134−31=1+941=9131=139. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04204 marksMCQQ.Let y=tan−1(sinx−cosxsinx+cosx), 0<x<2π. Then dxdy is equal to (A) x (B) −1 (C) −x (D) 2x (E) −2x
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewrite the fraction using sinx±cosx=2(…) to collapse the arctan into a linear function.
sinx+cosx=2cos(x−4π) and sinx−cosx=2sin(x−4π).
So the ratio =cot(x−4π)=tan(2π−(x−4π))=tan(43π−x). …
- KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06094 marksMCQQ.If y=tan−1[cosx+sinxcosx−sinx], −2π<x<2π, then dxdy is equal to (A) tanx (B) cosx (C) sinx (D) −1 (E) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
The argument simplifies to tan(4π−x), so y=4π−x and dxdy=−1.
Divide numerator and denominator by cosx:
y=tan−1(1+tanx1−tanx)=tan−1(tan(4π−x)). …
- KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06074 marksMCQQ.tan−1(31)+tan−1(32)+cot−1(79)= (A) 6π (B) 4π (C) 3π (D) 2π (E) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
tan−131+tan−132=tan−11−(1/3)(2/3)1/3+2/3=tan−17/91=tan−179. Since cot−179=tan−197, the total is tan−179+tan−197=2π.
First combine the two arctangents (product 31⋅32=92<1, so no correction term):
tan−131+tan−132=tan−11−9231+32=tan−17/91=tan−179. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04214 marksMCQQ.The value of 2tan−1(31)+cot−1(43)= (A) 3π (B) 32π (C) 4π (D) 6π (E) 2π
›Reveal solutionSolution
2tan−131=tan−143; adding tan−134 (its complementary reciprocal) gives 2π.
Using the double-angle formula:
2tan−131=tan−11−912⋅31=tan−19832=tan−143. …
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