Using only p&p, determine the value of this expression:
log(tan 1o)+log(tan 2o)+log(tan 3o)+...............+log(tan 88o)+log(tan 89o)
This is nearly equivalent to the integral from 0 to pi/2 of ln(tan(x))) dx. So that might be a way of solving; and this integral does evaluate to 0.
But notice that the tangent function is symmetric around 45 degrees, so let's look at how tan(45 + t) compares with tan(45 - t)
tan(a+b) = (tan(a) + tan(b))/(1 - tan(a)*tan(b))
tan(45 + t) = (tan(45) + tan(t))/(1 - tan(45)*tan(t))
tan(45 + t) = (1 + tan(t))/(1 - tan(t))
tan(45 - t) = (1 - tan(t))/(1 + tan(t))
So for every value of t, these 2 values are reciprocals.
The log of (a/b) is the opposite of the log of (b/a).
So by pairing (1,89), (2,88), (3,87) ...
log(tan(1)) + log(tan(89)) = 0
log(tan(2)) + log(tan(88)) = 0
etc
So they all add up to zero.
log(tan(45)) doesn't have a mate to pair up with, but log(1) = 0.
So the answer is zero.
|
Posted by Larry
on 2023-08-28 09:34:58 |