trig question!!!

how do I solve this to find the value

youve pretty much got it

1) simplify the (1+ tanx)^2 = (1 - tanx)^2 and then they are equivalent
it works in this case but you would normally lose a solution

2) expand (1+tanx)(1+tanx) = (1 - tanx)(1 - tanx)
you get the same answer as 1) but this is normally better as you dont lose any solutions this way for other equations which are similar

OKAY IVE GOT THAT now thanks! and then how do I find the solution!!

as in how do I find the angle?

how do I solve this to find the value

use the tan^-1(x) function on the calculator wdym?

I know I sound dumb but basically my text book says the answer is 0 and 180 degrees so I don't understand what tan=-1 isn't a value

you want values of tanx which equal 0

that is any integer value of 180 degrees

tan^-1 is a function not a value

why does tax = 0?

youve pretty much got it

1) simplify the (1+ tanx)^2 = (1 - tanx)^2 and then they are equivalent
it works in this case but you would normally lose a solution

2) expand (1+tanx)(1+tanx) = (1 - tanx)(1 - tanx)
you get the same answer as 1) but this is normally better as you dont lose any solutions this way for other equations which are similar

solve either 1) or 2) to get tanx = 0

either 1 + tanx = 1 - tanx in which case 2tanx=0 thus tanx = 0

or expanding 2) gives you the same

youve pretty much got it

1) simplify the (1+ tanx)^2 = (1 - tanx)^2 and then they are equivalent
it works in this case but you would normally lose a solution

2) expand (1+tanx)(1+tanx) = (1 - tanx)(1 - tanx)
you get the same answer as 1) but this is normally better as you dont lose any solutions this way for other equations which are similar

Both of these options miss half the solutions. 90 degrees is a solution: tan(45 + 90) = tan(45 - 90).
See my post #6.

nice thanks - im terrible at converting radians to degrees so must have missed it when checking

It is nothing to do with converting radians to degrees, but is rather due to the fact that the tan(A + @) formula yields an undefined result when either A or @ is equal to 90 degrees. This masks the potential solution @ = 90 degrees. To obtain the solution @ = 90 degrees you have to use the approach I outlined in post #6.