Difference between revisions of "1986 AIME Problems/Problem 3"

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== Problem ==
 
== Problem ==
If <math>\displaystyle \tan x+\tan y=25</math> and <math>\displaystyle \cot x + \cot y=30</math>, what is <math>\displaystyle \tan(x+y)</math>?
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If <math>\tan x+\tan y=25</math> and <math>\cot x + \cot y=30</math>, what is <math>\tan(x+y)</math>?
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
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* [[American Invitational Mathematics Examination]]
 
* [[American Invitational Mathematics Examination]]
 
* [[Mathematics competition resources]]
 
* [[Mathematics competition resources]]
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{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 18:04, 4 July 2013

Problem

If $\tan x+\tan y=25$ and $\cot x + \cot y=30$, what is $\tan(x+y)$?

Solution

Since $\cot$ is the reciprocal function of $\tan$:

$\cot x + \cot y = \frac{1}{\tan x} + \frac{1}{\tan y} = \frac{\tan x + \tan y}{\tan x \cdot \tan y} = 30$

Thus, $\tan x \cdot \tan y = \frac{\tan x + \tan y}{30} = \frac{25}{30} = \frac{5}{6}$

Using the tangent addition formula:

$\tan(x+y) = \frac{\tan x + \tan y}{1-\tan x \cdot \tan y} = \frac{25}{1-\frac{5}{6}} = 150$

See also

1986 AIME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 2
Followed by
Problem 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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