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tan2 10∘ + tan2 50∘ + tan2 70∘ = 9

6
[duplicate]
trigonometry

This question already has an answer here:

Trigonomnetric equality involving tg (1 answer)
Closed 2 years ago.

Strangest thing...*:

tan2 10∘ + tan2 50∘ + tan2 70∘ = 9 (1)

The trick, as always, is how to prove it.

My idea was to add a "missing" tangent and analyze

a similar expression:

tan2 10∘ + tan2 30∘ + tan2 50∘ + tan2 70∘

...and then to attack this sum pairwise (first and the
last term, second and third). Despite the fact that I
got the same angle (80∘ ) here and there, I got pretty
much nowhere with this approach.

The other interesting fact is that (1) can be rewritten

as:

cot2 20∘ + cot2 40∘ + cot2 80∘ (1)

...and now the angles are in nice geometric
progression. That's the vector of attack that I'm
trying to exploit now, but maybe you can entertain
youself a little bit too.

*Borrowed from "Usual suspects"

share improve this question

Oldboy asked
12.9k ● 1 ● 15 ● 44 Nov 24 '18 at 12:28

3 This is a very similar question. – Toby Mak Nov 24

'18 at 12:43

add a comment

1 Answer order by votes

You can write it as

2
cot2 20∘ + cot2 40∘ + cot2 60∘ + ⋯
56
+ cot2 160∘ =
3
That has eight multiples of 180∘ /9 , and you
can find a similar equation for other
numbers instead of 9.

share improve this answer

Empy2 answered
37.1k ● 1 ● 30 ● 65 Nov 24 '18 at 12:53

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