How to prove tan70 = 2tan50 + tan20?

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To prove the equation tan70 = 2tan50 + tan20, users suggest employing trigonometric identities such as the Angle Sum/Difference for Tangent and the Cofunction Identity. The discussion emphasizes using tan(70) as tan(50 + 20) to simplify the problem. Participants note that classic solutions exist and can be derived through algebraic manipulation of the tangent function. Overall, the consensus is that with the right formulas and some algebra, the proof can be established.
johncena
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Pls help !

Will anyone help me to prove this ?
tan70 = 2tan50 + tan20
(Angles are in degree measure)
 
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Things to use:

Angle Sum/Difference for Tangent

\tan(u \pm v)=\frac{\tan u \pm \tan v}{1 \mp \tan u \tan v}

Cofunction Identity for Tangent

\tan (90 - u) = \cot u for u in degrees.

Quotient Identity for Tangent

\tan u = \frac{1}{\cot u} \text{ or equivalently } \tan u \cdot \cot u = 1

Think \tan 70 = \tan (50+20)[/tex]...<br /> <br /> This is a classic problem and solutions can be found easily enough.<br /> <br /> --Elucidus
 


johncena said:
Will anyone help me to prove this ?
tan70 = 2tan50 + tan20
(Angles are in degree measure)

Euler's formula:

e^{ix} = \cos x + i \sin x for all real numbers x (cos and sin take radians, so you need a unit conversion)

Definition of tangent:

\tan x = \frac{\sin x}{\cos x}

All you need is those two formulas and a little algebra and you can show it's true.
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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