Q.Solve the following equation: tan−1(1+x1−x)=21tan−1x, (x>0).
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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
We use the identity tan−1a−tan−1b=tan−1(1+aba−b) and the fact that tan−1(1)=4π.
Step 1: Rewrite the left side.
Notice 1+x1−x=1+x1−x=1+1⋅x1−x. This matches tan−1(1)−tan−1(x) because
tan−11−tan−1x=tan−1(1+1⋅x1−x).
Step 2: So the equation becomes
tan−11−tan−1x=21tan−1x.
Since tan−11=4π, we have …
The key is to apply the inverse tangent identity tan−1a−tan−1b=tan−11+aba−b after rewriting the left side. This reduces the equation to a quadratic in x, giving x=31 as the only positive solution.
We start with the equation
tan−1(1+x1−x)=21tan−1x,x>0.
The left side looks like the formula for tan−11−tan−1x. Recall the identity:
tan−1a−tan−1b=tan−11+aba−b,ab>−1.
Here, take a=1 and b=x. Then
tan−11−tan−1x=tan−11+x1−x.
Since tan−11=4π, the equation becomes
4π−tan−1x=21tan−1x.
- Combine the inverse tangent terms. Bring tan−1x terms together:
4π=21tan−1x+tan−1x=23tan−1x.
So
tan−1x=6π.
- Take the tangent of both sides. Since x>0, the principal value of tan−1x lies in (0,2π), so we can safely apply tan:
x=tan6π=31.
- Check the domain and validity. …
Method: Solving an equation by recognising a subtraction identity
Use this when an inverse tangent contains 1+x1−x (or a similar 1+aba−b shape).
Steps
Step 1: Rewrite the fraction as a difference of inverse tangents.
Because tan−11−tan−1x=tan−1(1+x1−x) for x>−1, and tan−11=4π:
tan−1(1+x1−x)=4π−tan−1x.
Step 2: Reduce to a linear equation in tan−1x. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using the difference identity without checking its condition.
Why it's wrong: tan−11−tan−1x=tan−11+x1−x requires 1⋅x>−1; for x>0 this holds, but blindly applying it for negative x can be wrong. Correct approach: confirm x>0, then rewrite the left side as 4π−tan−1x.
Mistake 2: Mishandling the linear step, giving tan−1x=4π. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 23 on this concept.
- 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 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 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 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-2024-06084 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-2024-06094 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 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 2026Set eng-2026-04184 marksMCQQ.The value of tan(tan−1(3)+tan−1(7)) is equal to (A) −21 (B) 21 (C) 51 (D) −51 (E) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use tan(A+B)=1−tanAtanBtanA+tanB=−2010=−21.
With tanA=3, tanB=7: …
- KEAM 2023Set eng-2023-P2-B24 marksMCQQ.The value of tan−1(21)+tan−1(52) is (A) tan−1(5) (B) tan−1(51) (C) tan−1(32) (D) tan−1(98) (E) tan−1(89)
›Reveal solutionSolution
tan^-1(1/2) + tan^-1(2/5) = tan^-1(9/8) since the product (1/2)(2/5) = 1/5 < 1.
Concept and Intuition
tan^-1 a + tan^-1 b = tan^-1((a+b)/(1-ab)) when ab < 1, so the sum stays a single arctangent.
Step-by-Step Solution
- a = 1/2, b = 2/5; ab = 1/5 < 1, so the direct formula applies.
- a + b = 1/2 + 2/5 = 9/10.
- 1 - ab = 1 - 1/5 = 4/5.
- (a+b)/(1-ab) = (9/10)/(4/5) = (9/10)(5/4) = 9/8. …
- KEAM 2021Set eng-2021-P2-B14 marksMCQQ.The value of tan−1(47)−tan−1(113) is equal to (A) 3−π (B) 4−π (C) 4π (D) 3π (E) π
›Reveal solutionSolution
tan−147−tan−1113=π/4.
Concept and Intuition
Apply tan(A−B)=1+tanAtanBtanA−tanB; both arctangents are positive and small enough that the difference lies in the principal range.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Numerator: 47−113=4477−12=4465.
- Denominator: 1+47⋅113=1+4421=4465. …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04274 marksMCQQ.tan−1(9991001)−tan−1(20002)= (A) 3π (B) π (C) 1 (D) 6π (E) 4π
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewrite 20002=10001 and use the arctangent subtraction formula; the numerator and denominator turn out equal, giving tan−1(1)=4π.
We evaluate tan−1(9991001)−tan−1(20002).
Note 20002=10001. Using tan−1a−tan−1b=tan−11+aba−b with a=9991001, b=10001: …
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