Let A =tan15° + Cot15° =tan15° + 1/tan15°
A = (tan²15° + 1)/tan15° ………….. (1)
Now, we know that: tan30°=tan(2.15°)
i.e. tan (2.15°) = 2tan15°/(1 - tan²15°)
i.e. 2tan15°/(1 - tan²15°) = 1/√3
(Note: tan30° = 1/√3)
i.e. tan15° = 1/2√3(1 - tan²15°)
i.e. tan15° = √3/6(1 - tan²15°) ……… (2)
Substitute (2) in (1), we have:
A =(1 + tan²15°)/{√3/6(1 - tan²15°)} …(3)
A= 6(1 + tan²15°)/√3(1 - tan²15°)
Expand the following terms in (3) below:
1 + tan²15° = 1 + Sin²15°/Cos²15° ……. (i)
= (Sin² + Cos²x)/Cos²x
1 - tan²15° = 1 - Sin²15°/Cos²15° …….. (ii)
= (Cos²15° - Sin²15°)/Cos²15°
Substitute (i) & (ii) in (4), we have:
A=(6/√3){Sin²15°+Cos²15°}/{(Cos²15°-Sin²15°)} x Cos²15°/Cos²15°
Recall that: Sin²15° + Cos²15° = 1……(4)
i.e. A = {(6/√3) x 1}/(Cos²15° - Sin²15°) …(5)
Cos30°=Cos(2.15°)=Cos²15°-Sin²15°
And, Cos30° = √3/2
i.e. Cos2.15°=Cos²15°- Sin²15°=√3/2 …(6)
Substitute (6) in (5), we have:
A = (6/√3)/(√3/2)
A = (6/√3) x (2/√3) = (6 x 2)/(√3 x √3)
A = 12/3 = 4
Hence: tan15° + Cot15° = 4
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