Trigonometry Examples

$\tan (\frac{π}{6} - \frac{π}{4})$

Step 1

To write $\frac{π}{6}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$\tan (\frac{π}{6} \cdot \frac{2}{2} - \frac{π}{4})$

Step 2

To write $- \frac{π}{4}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{3}{3}$ .

$\tan (\frac{π}{6} \cdot \frac{2}{2} - \frac{π}{4} \cdot \frac{3}{3})$

Step 3

Write each expression with a common denominator of $12$ , by multiplying each by an appropriate factor of $1$ .

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Step 3.1

Multiply $\frac{π}{6}$ by $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$\tan (\frac{π \cdot 2}{6 \cdot 2} - \frac{π}{4} \cdot \frac{3}{3})$

Step 3.2

Multiply $6$ by $2$ .

$\tan (\frac{π \cdot 2}{12} - \frac{π}{4} \cdot \frac{3}{3})$

Step 3.3

Multiply $\frac{π}{4}$ by $\frac{3}{3}$ .

$\tan (\frac{π \cdot 2}{12} - \frac{π \cdot 3}{4 \cdot 3})$

Step 3.4

Multiply $4$ by $3$ .

$\tan (\frac{π \cdot 2}{12} - \frac{π \cdot 3}{12})$

Step 4

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\tan (\frac{π \cdot 2 - π \cdot 3}{12})$

Step 5

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 5.1

Move $2$ to the left of $π$ .

$\tan (\frac{2 \cdot π - π \cdot 3}{12})$

Step 5.2

Multiply $3$ by $- 1$ .

$\tan (\frac{2 π - 3 π}{12})$

Step 5.3

Subtract $3 π$ from $2 π$ .

$\tan (\frac{- π}{12})$

Step 6

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$\tan (- \frac{π}{12})$

Step 7

Add full rotations of $2 π$ until the angle is greater than or equal to $0$ and less than $2 π$ .

$\tan (\frac{23 π}{12})$

Step 8

The exact value of $\tan (\frac{23 π}{12})$ is $- 2 + \sqrt{3}$ .

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Step 8.1

Apply the reference angle by finding the angle with equivalent trig values in the first quadrant. Make the expression negative because tangent is negative in the fourth quadrant.

$- \tan (\frac{π}{12})$

Step 8.2

Split $\frac{π}{12}$ into two angles where the values of the six trigonometric functions are known.

$- \tan (\frac{π}{4} - \frac{π}{6})$

Step 8.3

Apply the difference of angles identity.

$- \frac{\tan (\frac{π}{4}) - \tan (\frac{π}{6})}{1 + \tan (\frac{π}{4}) \tan (\frac{π}{6})}$

Step 8.4

The exact value of $\tan (\frac{π}{4})$ is $1$ .

$- \frac{1 - \tan (\frac{π}{6})}{1 + \tan (\frac{π}{4}) \tan (\frac{π}{6})}$

Step 8.5

The exact value of $\tan (\frac{π}{6})$ is $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$ .

$- \frac{1 - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}{1 + \tan (\frac{π}{4}) \tan (\frac{π}{6})}$

Step 8.6

The exact value of $\tan (\frac{π}{4})$ is $1$ .

$- \frac{1 - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}{1 + 1 \tan (\frac{π}{6})}$

Step 8.7

The exact value of $\tan (\frac{π}{6})$ is $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$ .

$- \frac{1 - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}{1 + 1 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}$

Step 8.8

Simplify $- \frac{1 - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}{1 + 1 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}$ .

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Step 8.8.1

Multiply the numerator and denominator of the fraction by $3$ .

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Step 8.8.1.1

Multiply $\frac{1 - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}{1 + 1 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}$ by $\frac{3}{3}$ .

$- (\frac{3}{3} \cdot \frac{1 - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}{1 + 1 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}})$

Step 8.8.1.2

Combine.

$- \frac{3 (1 - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3})}{3 (1 + 1 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3})}$

Step 8.8.2

Apply the distributive property.

$- \frac{3 \cdot 1 + 3 (- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3})}{3 \cdot 1 + 3 (1 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3})}$

Step 8.8.3

Cancel the common factor of $3$ .

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Step 8.8.3.1

Move the leading negative in $- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$ into the numerator.

$- \frac{3 \cdot 1 + 3 \frac{- \sqrt{3}}{3}}{3 \cdot 1 + 3 (1 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3})}$

Step 8.8.3.2

Cancel the common factor.

$- \frac{3 \cdot 1 + 3 \frac{- \sqrt{3}}{3}}{3 \cdot 1 + 3 (1 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3})}$

Step 8.8.3.3

Rewrite the expression.

$- \frac{3 \cdot 1 - \sqrt{3}}{3 \cdot 1 + 3 (1 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3})}$

Step 8.8.4

Multiply $3$ by $1$ .

$- \frac{3 - \sqrt{3}}{3 \cdot 1 + 3 \cdot 1 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}$

Step 8.8.5

Simplify the denominator.

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Step 8.8.5.1

Multiply $3$ by $1$ .

$- \frac{3 - \sqrt{3}}{3 + 3 \cdot 1 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}$

Step 8.8.5.2

Cancel the common factor of $3$ .

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Step 8.8.5.2.1

Factor $3$ out of $3 \cdot 1$ .

$- \frac{3 - \sqrt{3}}{3 + 3 (1) \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}$

Step 8.8.5.2.2

Cancel the common factor.

$- \frac{3 - \sqrt{3}}{3 + 3 \cdot 1 \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}}$

Step 8.8.5.2.3

Rewrite the expression.

$- \frac{3 - \sqrt{3}}{3 + \sqrt{3}}$

Step 8.8.6

Multiply $\frac{3 - \sqrt{3}}{3 + \sqrt{3}}$ by $\frac{3 - \sqrt{3}}{3 - \sqrt{3}}$ .

$- (\frac{3 - \sqrt{3}}{3 + \sqrt{3}} \cdot \frac{3 - \sqrt{3}}{3 - \sqrt{3}})$

Step 8.8.7

Multiply $\frac{3 - \sqrt{3}}{3 + \sqrt{3}}$ by $\frac{3 - \sqrt{3}}{3 - \sqrt{3}}$ .

$- \frac{(3 - \sqrt{3}) (3 - \sqrt{3})}{(3 + \sqrt{3}) (3 - \sqrt{3})}$

Step 8.8.8

Expand the denominator using the FOIL method.

$- \frac{(3 - \sqrt{3}) (3 - \sqrt{3})}{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} + \sqrt{3} \cdot 3 - {\sqrt{3}}^{2}}$

Step 8.8.9

Simplify.

$- \frac{(3 - \sqrt{3}) (3 - \sqrt{3})}{6}$

Step 8.8.10

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 8.8.10.1

Raise $3 - \sqrt{3}$ to the power of $1$ .

$- \frac{{(3 - \sqrt{3})}^{1} (3 - \sqrt{3})}{6}$

Step 8.8.10.2

Raise $3 - \sqrt{3}$ to the power of $1$ .

$- \frac{{(3 - \sqrt{3})}^{1} {(3 - \sqrt{3})}^{1}}{6}$

Step 8.8.10.3

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$- \frac{{(3 - \sqrt{3})}^{1 + 1}}{6}$

Step 8.8.10.4

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$- \frac{{(3 - \sqrt{3})}^{2}}{6}$

Step 8.8.11

Rewrite ${(3 - \sqrt{3})}^{2}$ as $(3 - \sqrt{3}) (3 - \sqrt{3})$ .

$- \frac{(3 - \sqrt{3}) (3 - \sqrt{3})}{6}$

Step 8.8.12

Expand $(3 - \sqrt{3}) (3 - \sqrt{3})$ using the FOIL Method.

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Step 8.8.12.1

Apply the distributive property.

$- \frac{3 (3 - \sqrt{3}) - \sqrt{3} (3 - \sqrt{3})}{6}$

Step 8.8.12.2

Apply the distributive property.

$- \frac{3 \cdot 3 + 3 (- \sqrt{3}) - \sqrt{3} (3 - \sqrt{3})}{6}$

Step 8.8.12.3

Apply the distributive property.

$- \frac{3 \cdot 3 + 3 (- \sqrt{3}) - \sqrt{3} \cdot 3 - \sqrt{3} (- \sqrt{3})}{6}$

Step 8.8.13

Simplify and combine like terms.

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Step 8.8.13.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 8.8.13.1.1

Multiply $3$ by $3$ .

$- \frac{9 + 3 (- \sqrt{3}) - \sqrt{3} \cdot 3 - \sqrt{3} (- \sqrt{3})}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.2

Multiply $- 1$ by $3$ .

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - \sqrt{3} \cdot 3 - \sqrt{3} (- \sqrt{3})}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.3

Multiply $3$ by $- 1$ .

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3} - \sqrt{3} (- \sqrt{3})}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.4

Multiply $- \sqrt{3} (- \sqrt{3})$ .

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Step 8.8.13.1.4.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 1$ .

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3} + 1 \sqrt{3} \sqrt{3}}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.4.2

Multiply $\sqrt{3}$ by $1$ .

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3} + \sqrt{3} \sqrt{3}}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.4.3

Raise $\sqrt{3}$ to the power of $1$ .

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3} + {\sqrt{3}}^{1} \sqrt{3}}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.4.4

Raise $\sqrt{3}$ to the power of $1$ .

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3} + {\sqrt{3}}^{1} {\sqrt{3}}^{1}}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.4.5

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3} + {\sqrt{3}}^{1 + 1}}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.4.6

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3} + {\sqrt{3}}^{2}}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.5

Rewrite ${\sqrt{3}}^{2}$ as $3$ .

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Step 8.8.13.1.5.1

Use $\sqrt[n]{a^{x}} = a^{\frac{x}{n}}$ to rewrite $\sqrt{3}$ as $3^{\frac{1}{2}}$ .

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3} + {(3^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{2}}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.5.2

Apply the power rule and multiply exponents, ${(a^{m})}^{n} = a^{m n}$ .

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3} + 3^{\frac{1}{2} \cdot 2}}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.5.3

Combine $\frac{1}{2}$ and $2$ .

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3} + 3^{\frac{2}{2}}}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.5.4

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 8.8.13.1.5.4.1

Cancel the common factor.

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3} + 3^{\frac{2}{2}}}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.5.4.2

Rewrite the expression.

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3} + 3^{1}}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.1.5.5

Evaluate the exponent.

$- \frac{9 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3} + 3}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.2

Add $9$ and $3$ .

$- \frac{12 - 3 \sqrt{3} - 3 \sqrt{3}}{6}$

Step 8.8.13.3

Subtract $3 \sqrt{3}$ from $- 3 \sqrt{3}$ .

$- \frac{12 - 6 \sqrt{3}}{6}$

Step 8.8.14

Cancel the common factor of $12 - 6 \sqrt{3}$ and $6$ .

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Step 8.8.14.1

Factor $6$ out of $12$ .

$- \frac{6 \cdot 2 - 6 \sqrt{3}}{6}$

Step 8.8.14.2

Factor $6$ out of $- 6 \sqrt{3}$ .

$- \frac{6 \cdot 2 + 6 (- \sqrt{3})}{6}$

Step 8.8.14.3

Factor $6$ out of $6 (2) + 6 (- \sqrt{3})$ .

$- \frac{6 (2 - \sqrt{3})}{6}$

Step 8.8.14.4

Cancel the common factors.

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Step 8.8.14.4.1

Factor $6$ out of $6$ .

$- \frac{6 (2 - \sqrt{3})}{6 (1)}$

Step 8.8.14.4.2

Cancel the common factor.

$- \frac{6 (2 - \sqrt{3})}{6 \cdot 1}$

Step 8.8.14.4.3

Rewrite the expression.

$- \frac{2 - \sqrt{3}}{1}$

Step 8.8.14.4.4

Divide $2 - \sqrt{3}$ by $1$ .

$- (2 - \sqrt{3})$

Step 8.8.15

Apply the distributive property.

$- 1 \cdot 2 - - \sqrt{3}$

Step 8.8.16

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

$- 2 - - \sqrt{3}$

Step 8.8.17

Multiply $- - \sqrt{3}$ .

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Step 8.8.17.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 1$ .

$- 2 + 1 \sqrt{3}$

Step 8.8.17.2

Multiply $\sqrt{3}$ by $1$ .

$- 2 + \sqrt{3}$

Step 9

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$- 2 + \sqrt{3}$

Decimal Form:

$- 0.26794919 \dots$