Evaluate $\tan \left( \frac{1}{2} \cos^{-1} \frac{5}{7} \right)$.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → $\frac{1}{\sqrt{6}}$ ##
Assume that $\frac{1}{2} \cos^{-1} \frac{5}{7} = \theta$
Then, $\cos^{-1} \frac{5}{7} = 2\theta$
$\Rightarrow \cos 2\theta = \frac{5}{7}$
Since, $\cos 2\theta = \frac{1 - \tan^2 \theta}{1 + \tan^2 \theta}$
$∴\frac{1 - \tan^2 \theta}{1 + \tan^2 \theta} = \frac{5}{7}$
$\Rightarrow \tan^2 \theta = \frac{1}{6}$
$\Rightarrow \tan \theta = \left( \sqrt{\frac{1}{6}} \right) \text{ or } \left( -\sqrt{\frac{1}{6}} \right)$
Also, $0 \le \cos^{-1} \frac{5}{7} \le \pi$
$\Rightarrow 0 \le \frac{1}{2} \cos^{-1} \frac{5}{7} \le \frac{\pi}{2}$
$\Rightarrow 0 \le \tan \theta \le \infty$
$∴\tan \theta = \frac{1}{\sqrt{6}}$
[Rejecting the negative value for $\tan \theta$]