Thomas' Calculus 13th Edition

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32187-896-5
ISBN 13: 978-0-32187-896-0

Chapter 7: Transcendental Functions - Section 7.6 - Inverse Trigonometric Functions - Exercises 7.6 - Page 422: 111

Answer

Explanation given below.

Work Step by Step

Observe the three angles in the bottom right of the diagram. The smallest right triangle has legs 1 and 1, so $\displaystyle \tan\alpha_{1}=\frac{1}{1}$, $\alpha_{1}=\tan^{-1}1$ The next right triangle has legs 1 and 2, so the tangent of the next angle is $\displaystyle \frac{2}{1}=2.$ $\alpha_{2}=\tan^{-1}2$ The next triangle is a right triangle, as it is constructed so that the slope of the larger leg makes it perpendicular to the smaller leg, making it a right triangle. So, $\displaystyle \tan(\alpha_{3})=\frac{3\times\text{shorter leg}}{\text{shorter leg}}=3,$ that is, $\alpha_{3}=\tan^{-1}3$ The three angles add up to $180^{o}$, or in radians, $\pi$ rad, as the terminal sides of $\alpha_{1}$ and $\alpha_{3}$ lie on the same line. Thus, $\tan^{-1}1+\tan^{-1}2+\tan^{-1}3=\pi$
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