Find the values of A between and including 0 and 360 degrees for tan(2A) = 3tan(A)

You cannot work with this equation in the current form so you must use identities to find an equivalent form that you can work with. It is known that tan(2A) = 2tan(A) / 1-tan2(A) so set this equal to 3tan(A), multiply the denominator to the other side and with some rearrangement you will get 3tan3(A) - tan(A) = 0. Now it should hopefully be clear that you can factorise out tan(A) and you will get two solutions of tan(A) = 0 and 3tan2(A) - 1 = 0. The second term equates to tan(A) = +and- (1/3)0.5. The final step is to sketch a graph of y = tan(A) and using that with the inverse tan function on your calculator you should get the desired values within the required range as 0o, 180o, 360o, 30o, 210o, 150o, 330o.

DM
Answered by Daniel M. Maths tutor

5410 Views

See similar Maths A Level tutors

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

Differentiate ln(x)/x


Find the derivative of sin(x)/x^3 with respect to x


A curve has equations: x=2sin(t) and y=1-cos(2t). Find dy/dx at the point where t=pi/6


A particle of mass 0.5 kg is moving down a rough slope (with coefficient of friction = 0.2) inclined at 30 degrees to the horizontal. Find the acceleration of the particle. Use g = 9.8 ms^-2.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning