Question #8977f

1 Answer
Feb 16, 2017

#1 + sqrt2#

Explanation:

Call tan ( 67.5) = tan t.
tan (2t) = tan (135) = - 1
Use trig identity:
#tan 2t = (2tan t)/(1 - tan^2 t#
In this case:
# -1 = (2tan t)/(1 - tan^2 t)#
Cross multiply and bring quadratic equation to standard form:
#tan^2 t - 2tan t - 1 = 0#
#D = d^2 = b^2 - 4ac = 4 + 4 = 8# --> #d = +- 2sqrt2#
There are 2 real roots:
#tan t = -b/(2a) +- d/(2a) = 2/2 +- (2sqrt2)/2 = 1 +- sqrt2#
Since tan (67.5) > 0, there for:
#tan t = tan (67.5) = 1 + sqrt2#