Skip to content
Exercise 4.6 · Q17

Q.The equation tan⁡−1x−cot⁡−1x=tan⁡−1(13)\tan^{-1}x - \cot^{-1}x = \tan^{-1}\left(\dfrac1{\sqrt3}\right) has

(1) no solution
(2) unique solution
(3) two solutions
(4) infinite number of solutions
Tamil Nadu DgeTextbookSubjectiveImportance★★★★★
68% · 48/71 Questions
🔒 Locked · start free trial →

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 →

Substituting the complementary identity collapses the equation to a single linear equation in tan⁡−1x\tan^{-1}x, which has exactly one solution.

Step 1. Substitute cot⁡−1x=π2−tan⁡−1x\cot^{-1}x=\dfrac{\pi}2-\tan^{-1}x. tan⁡−1x−(π2−tan⁡−1x)=tan⁡−113⇒2tan⁡−1x−π2=π6\tan^{-1}x-\left(\dfrac{\pi}2-\tan^{-1}x\right)=\tan^{-1}\dfrac1{\sqrt3}\Rightarrow2\tan^{-1}x-\dfrac{\pi}2=\dfrac{\pi}6.

Step 2. Solve for tan⁡−1x\tan^{-1}x. 2tan⁡−1x=π6+π2=2π3⇒tan⁡−1x=π32\tan^{-1}x=\dfrac{\pi}6+\dfrac{\pi}2=\dfrac{2\pi}3\Rightarrow\tan^{-1}x=\dfrac{\pi}3. …

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.