Precalculus Examples

Solve for ? 3tan(x)^3=tan(x)
3tan3(x)=tan(x)
Step 1
Subtract tan(x) from both sides of the equation.
3tan3(x)-tan(x)=0
Step 2
Factor tan(x) out of 3tan3(x)-tan(x).
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Step 2.1
Factor tan(x) out of 3tan3(x).
tan(x)(3tan2(x))-tan(x)=0
Step 2.2
Factor tan(x) out of -tan(x).
tan(x)(3tan2(x))+tan(x)-1=0
Step 2.3
Factor tan(x) out of tan(x)(3tan2(x))+tan(x)-1.
tan(x)(3tan2(x)-1)=0
tan(x)(3tan2(x)-1)=0
Step 3
If any individual factor on the left side of the equation is equal to 0, the entire expression will be equal to 0.
tan(x)=0
3tan2(x)-1=0
Step 4
Set tan(x) equal to 0 and solve for x.
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Step 4.1
Set tan(x) equal to 0.
tan(x)=0
Step 4.2
Solve tan(x)=0 for x.
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Step 4.2.1
Take the inverse tangent of both sides of the equation to extract x from inside the tangent.
x=arctan(0)
Step 4.2.2
Simplify the right side.
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Step 4.2.2.1
The exact value of arctan(0) is 0.
x=0
x=0
Step 4.2.3
The tangent function is positive in the first and third quadrants. To find the second solution, add the reference angle from π to find the solution in the fourth quadrant.
x=π+0
Step 4.2.4
Add π and 0.
x=π
Step 4.2.5
Find the period of tan(x).
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Step 4.2.5.1
The period of the function can be calculated using π|b|.
π|b|
Step 4.2.5.2
Replace b with 1 in the formula for period.
π|1|
Step 4.2.5.3
The absolute value is the distance between a number and zero. The distance between 0 and 1 is 1.
π1
Step 4.2.5.4
Divide π by 1.
π
π
Step 4.2.6
The period of the tan(x) function is π so values will repeat every π radians in both directions.
x=πn,π+πn, for any integer n
x=πn,π+πn, for any integer n
x=πn,π+πn, for any integer n
Step 5
Set 3tan2(x)-1 equal to 0 and solve for x.
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Step 5.1
Set 3tan2(x)-1 equal to 0.
3tan2(x)-1=0
Step 5.2
Solve 3tan2(x)-1=0 for x.
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Step 5.2.1
Add 1 to both sides of the equation.
3tan2(x)=1
Step 5.2.2
Divide each term in 3tan2(x)=1 by 3 and simplify.
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Step 5.2.2.1
Divide each term in 3tan2(x)=1 by 3.
3tan2(x)3=13
Step 5.2.2.2
Simplify the left side.
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Step 5.2.2.2.1
Cancel the common factor of 3.
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Step 5.2.2.2.1.1
Cancel the common factor.
3tan2(x)3=13
Step 5.2.2.2.1.2
Divide tan2(x) by 1.
tan2(x)=13
tan2(x)=13
tan2(x)=13
tan2(x)=13
Step 5.2.3
Take the specified root of both sides of the equation to eliminate the exponent on the left side.
tan(x)=±13
Step 5.2.4
Simplify ±13.
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Step 5.2.4.1
Rewrite 13 as 13.
tan(x)=±13
Step 5.2.4.2
Any root of 1 is 1.
tan(x)=±13
Step 5.2.4.3
Multiply 13 by 33.
tan(x)=±1333
Step 5.2.4.4
Combine and simplify the denominator.
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Step 5.2.4.4.1
Multiply 13 by 33.
tan(x)=±333
Step 5.2.4.4.2
Raise 3 to the power of 1.
tan(x)=±3313
Step 5.2.4.4.3
Raise 3 to the power of 1.
tan(x)=±33131
Step 5.2.4.4.4
Use the power rule aman=am+n to combine exponents.
tan(x)=±331+1
Step 5.2.4.4.5
Add 1 and 1.
tan(x)=±332
Step 5.2.4.4.6
Rewrite 32 as 3.
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Step 5.2.4.4.6.1
Use axn=axn to rewrite 3 as 312.
tan(x)=±3(312)2
Step 5.2.4.4.6.2
Apply the power rule and multiply exponents, (am)n=amn.
tan(x)=±33122
Step 5.2.4.4.6.3
Combine 12 and 2.
tan(x)=±3322
Step 5.2.4.4.6.4
Cancel the common factor of 2.
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Step 5.2.4.4.6.4.1
Cancel the common factor.
tan(x)=±3322
Step 5.2.4.4.6.4.2
Rewrite the expression.
tan(x)=±331
tan(x)=±331
Step 5.2.4.4.6.5
Evaluate the exponent.
tan(x)=±33
tan(x)=±33
tan(x)=±33
tan(x)=±33
Step 5.2.5
The complete solution is the result of both the positive and negative portions of the solution.
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Step 5.2.5.1
First, use the positive value of the ± to find the first solution.
tan(x)=33
Step 5.2.5.2
Next, use the negative value of the ± to find the second solution.
tan(x)=-33
Step 5.2.5.3
The complete solution is the result of both the positive and negative portions of the solution.
tan(x)=33,-33
tan(x)=33,-33
Step 5.2.6
Set up each of the solutions to solve for x.
tan(x)=33
tan(x)=-33
Step 5.2.7
Solve for x in tan(x)=33.
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Step 5.2.7.1
Take the inverse tangent of both sides of the equation to extract x from inside the tangent.
x=arctan(33)
Step 5.2.7.2
Simplify the right side.
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Step 5.2.7.2.1
The exact value of arctan(33) is π6.
x=π6
x=π6
Step 5.2.7.3
The tangent function is positive in the first and third quadrants. To find the second solution, add the reference angle from π to find the solution in the fourth quadrant.
x=π+π6
Step 5.2.7.4
Simplify π+π6.
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Step 5.2.7.4.1
To write π as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by 66.
x=π66+π6
Step 5.2.7.4.2
Combine fractions.
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Step 5.2.7.4.2.1
Combine π and 66.
x=π66+π6
Step 5.2.7.4.2.2
Combine the numerators over the common denominator.
x=π6+π6
x=π6+π6
Step 5.2.7.4.3
Simplify the numerator.
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Step 5.2.7.4.3.1
Move 6 to the left of π.
x=6π+π6
Step 5.2.7.4.3.2
Add 6π and π.
x=7π6
x=7π6
x=7π6
Step 5.2.7.5
Find the period of tan(x).
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Step 5.2.7.5.1
The period of the function can be calculated using π|b|.
π|b|
Step 5.2.7.5.2
Replace b with 1 in the formula for period.
π|1|
Step 5.2.7.5.3
The absolute value is the distance between a number and zero. The distance between 0 and 1 is 1.
π1
Step 5.2.7.5.4
Divide π by 1.
π
π
Step 5.2.7.6
The period of the tan(x) function is π so values will repeat every π radians in both directions.
x=π6+πn,7π6+πn, for any integer n
x=π6+πn,7π6+πn, for any integer n
Step 5.2.8
Solve for x in tan(x)=-33.
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Step 5.2.8.1
Take the inverse tangent of both sides of the equation to extract x from inside the tangent.
x=arctan(-33)
Step 5.2.8.2
Simplify the right side.
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Step 5.2.8.2.1
The exact value of arctan(-33) is -π6.
x=-π6
x=-π6
Step 5.2.8.3
The tangent function is negative in the second and fourth quadrants. To find the second solution, subtract the reference angle from π to find the solution in the third quadrant.
x=-π6-π
Step 5.2.8.4
Simplify the expression to find the second solution.
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Step 5.2.8.4.1
Add 2π to -π6-π.
x=-π6-π+2π
Step 5.2.8.4.2
The resulting angle of 5π6 is positive and coterminal with -π6-π.
x=5π6
x=5π6
Step 5.2.8.5
Find the period of tan(x).
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Step 5.2.8.5.1
The period of the function can be calculated using π|b|.
π|b|
Step 5.2.8.5.2
Replace b with 1 in the formula for period.
π|1|
Step 5.2.8.5.3
The absolute value is the distance between a number and zero. The distance between 0 and 1 is 1.
π1
Step 5.2.8.5.4
Divide π by 1.
π
π
Step 5.2.8.6
Add π to every negative angle to get positive angles.
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Step 5.2.8.6.1
Add π to -π6 to find the positive angle.
-π6+π
Step 5.2.8.6.2
To write π as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by 66.
π66-π6
Step 5.2.8.6.3
Combine fractions.
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Step 5.2.8.6.3.1
Combine π and 66.
π66-π6
Step 5.2.8.6.3.2
Combine the numerators over the common denominator.
π6-π6
π6-π6
Step 5.2.8.6.4
Simplify the numerator.
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Step 5.2.8.6.4.1
Move 6 to the left of π.
6π-π6
Step 5.2.8.6.4.2
Subtract π from 6π.
5π6
5π6
Step 5.2.8.6.5
List the new angles.
x=5π6
x=5π6
Step 5.2.8.7
The period of the tan(x) function is π so values will repeat every π radians in both directions.
x=5π6+πn,5π6+πn, for any integer n
x=5π6+πn,5π6+πn, for any integer n
Step 5.2.9
List all of the solutions.
x=π6+πn,7π6+πn,5π6+πn,5π6+πn, for any integer n
Step 5.2.10
Consolidate the solutions.
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Step 5.2.10.1
Consolidate π6+πn and 7π6+πn to π6+πn.
x=π6+πn,5π6+πn,5π6+πn, for any integer n
Step 5.2.10.2
Consolidate 5π6+πn and 5π6+πn to 5π6+πn.
x=π6+πn,5π6+πn, for any integer n
x=π6+πn,5π6+πn, for any integer n
x=π6+πn,5π6+πn, for any integer n
x=π6+πn,5π6+πn, for any integer n
Step 6
The final solution is all the values that make tan(x)(3tan2(x)-1)=0 true.
x=πn,π+πn,π6+πn,5π6+πn, for any integer n
Step 7
Consolidate πn and π+πn to πn.
x=πn,π6+πn,5π6+πn, for any integer n
3tan3(x)=tan(x)
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