Let \(\alpha, \beta\) and \(\gamma\) be such that \(0 < \alpha < \beta < \gamma < 2 \pi\). For any \(x \in…

Let \(\alpha, \beta\) and \(\gamma\) be such that \(0 < \alpha < \beta < \gamma < 2 \pi\). For any \(x \in R\) if \(\cos (x+\alpha)+\cos (x+\beta)+\cos (x+\gamma)=0 \text {, }\) then \(\tan (\gamma-\alpha)=\)
  1. \(-\sqrt{3}\)
  2. 0
  3. 1
  4. \(\sqrt{3}\)

Solution

It is given that for any \(x \in R\). \(\cos (x+\alpha)+\cos (x+\beta)+\cos (x+\gamma)=0\) Now, put \(x=-\alpha-\beta-\gamma\), \(0 < \alpha < \beta < \gamma < 2 \pi\), we get \(\begin{aligned} & \cos (\beta+\gamma)+\cos (\alpha+\gamma)+\cos (\alpha+\beta)=0 \\ & \Rightarrow 2 \cos \left(\frac{\alpha+2 \beta+\gamma}{2}\right) \cos \left(\frac{\gamma-\alpha}{2}\right) +\cos (\alpha+\gamma)=0 \quad \ldots (i) \end{aligned}\) Now, put \(x=\frac{\pi}{2}-\beta\), we get \(\begin{array}{ll} & \sin (\beta-\alpha)+\sin (\beta-\gamma)=0 \\ \Rightarrow & \sin (\beta-\alpha)=\sin (\gamma-\beta) \\ \Rightarrow \quad & 2 \beta=\alpha+\gamma \quad \ldots (ii) \end{array}\) From Eqs. (i) and (ii), we get \(\begin{array}{rc} & \cos (\alpha+\gamma)\left[\frac{1}{2} \cos \left(\frac{\gamma-\alpha}{2}\right)+1\right]=0 \\ \Rightarrow \quad & \quad \cos \left(\frac{\gamma-\alpha}{2}\right)=-\frac{1}{2} \\ \Rightarrow \quad & \frac{\gamma-\alpha}{2}=\frac{2 \pi}{3} \Rightarrow \gamma-\alpha=\frac{\pi}{3} \end{array}\) So, \(\tan (\gamma-\alpha)=\sqrt{3}\)

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2019 (22 Apr Shift 1)

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