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Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
The sides $a, b, c$ of a triangle are in AP. If $\cos \alpha=\frac{a}{b+c}, \cos \beta=\frac{b}{c+a}, \cos \gamma=\frac{c}{a+b}$ then $\tan ^{2} \frac{\alpha}{2}+\tan ^{2} \frac{\gamma}{2}=$
MathematicsTrigonometric Ratios & IdentitiesCOMEDKCOMEDK 2017
Options:
  • A 1
  • B $\frac{1}{2}$
  • C $\frac{1}{3}$
  • D $\frac{2}{3}$
Solution:
1934 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is: $\frac{2}{3}$
$\frac{\cos \alpha}{1}=\frac{a}{b+c} \Rightarrow \frac{1}{\cos \alpha}=\frac{b+c}{a}$
By componendo and dividendo,we have
$\frac{1-\cos \alpha}{1+\cos \alpha}=\frac{b+c-a}{b+c+a}$
$\Rightarrow \quad \tan ^{2} \frac{\alpha}{2}=\frac{b+c-a}{3 b}\left\{\begin{array}{l}\because a, b, c \text { are in A.P. } \\ \Rightarrow 2 b=a+c\end{array}\right\}$
$\Rightarrow \quad \frac{1-\cos \gamma}{1+\cos \gamma}=\frac{a+b-c}{a+b-c}$
$\Rightarrow \quad \tan ^{2} \frac{\gamma}{2}=\frac{a+b-c}{3 b}$
$\therefore \tan ^{2} \frac{\alpha}{2}+\tan ^{2} \frac{\gamma}{2}=\frac{2 b}{3 b}=\frac{2}{3}$

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