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T for Tan

Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow star
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This problem asks students to use a right-angled triangle to derive expressions for $\tan 2 \theta$, $\sin 2 \theta$ and $\cos 2 \theta$ in terms of $\tan \theta$.

Students will need to use:

  • Angle sum of triangle
  • Pythagoras's theorem
  • Right-angled trig

 

You can download a Word and PDF version of this problem.

 

Students who are studying matrices might like to see how this result is used in the problem Reflect Again.

 

You may also like

Shape and Territory

If for any triangle ABC tan(A - B) + tan(B - C) + tan(C - A) = 0 what can you say about the triangle?

Why Stop at Three by One

Beautiful mathematics. Two 18 year old students gave eight different proofs of one result then generalised it from the 3 by 1 case to the n by 1 case and proved the general result.

Reflect Again

Follow hints to investigate the matrix which gives a reflection of the plane in the line y=tanx. Show that the combination of two reflections in intersecting lines is a rotation.

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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