Practice free →
HomeUP Board Class 12mathematicsinversetrigonometric › For $x = -2$, the value of $\tan^{-1}\left(\dfra…

For $x = -2$, the value of $\tan^{-1}\left(\dfrac{2x}{1-x^2}\right)$ equals

A$\pi - 2\tan^{-1}(2)$
B$\pi + 2\tan^{-1}(-2)$
C$-\pi + 2\tan^{-1}(-2)$
D$2\tan^{-1}(-2)$
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. $\pi + 2\tan^{-1}(-2)$
The identity $\tan^{-1}\left(\tfrac{2x}{1-x^2}\right) = 2\tan^{-1}(x)$ only holds for $-1 \le x \le 1$. For $x < -1$, the principal value of $\tan^{-1}\left(\tfrac{2x}{1-x^2}\right)$ jumps by $\pi$: the correct piecewise rule gives $\pi + 2\tan^{-1}(x)$. Substituting $x = -2$: answer is $\pi + 2\tan^{-1}(-2)$. (Numerical check: $\tfrac{2(-2)}{1-4} = \tfrac{4}{3}$, so the LHS is $\tan^{-1}(4/3) \approx 0.927$; RHS is $\pi + 2(-1.107) \approx 0.927$. Match.)
Solve this in the app — UP Board Class 12 practice & 24k+ MCQs →
Related questions