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AMC 12 Mock Exam 2 Problem 7

Problem 7 of 25

An angle θ\theta with 0<θ<π20<\theta<\frac{\pi}{2} satisfies sin⁡θ+2cos⁡θ=2\sin\theta+2\cos\theta=2. What is tan⁡θ\tan\theta?

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Solution

Rewrite the equation as sin⁡θ=2(1−cos⁡θ)\sin\theta=2(1-\cos\theta). Using sin⁡θ=2sin⁡θ2cos⁡θ2\sin\theta=2\sin\frac\theta2\cos\frac\theta2 and 1−cos⁡θ=2sin⁡2θ21-\cos\theta=2\sin^2\frac\theta2, this becomes 2sin⁡θ2cos⁡θ2=4sin⁡2θ22\sin\frac\theta2\cos\frac\theta2=4\sin^2\frac\theta2. Since sin⁡θ2≠0\sin\frac\theta2\ne0, tan⁡θ2=12\tan\frac\theta2=\frac12, and tan⁡θ=2⋅121−14=43.\tan\theta=\frac{2\cdot\frac12}{1-\frac14}=\boxed{\tfrac43}. (Check: sin⁡θ=45\sin\theta=\frac45, cos⁡θ=35\cos\theta=\frac35, and 45+65=2\frac45+\frac65=2.)

Tagged: trigonometric equation · half-angle