If tan(x)>x. Find interval of x.

Domianpv

Domianpv

Answered question

2022-09-29

If tan ( x ) > x. Find interval of x.
We encountered this question in the class today. My lecturer asked me to define a function f ( x ) = tan ( x ) x. Then we were asked to find its derivative, f′(x), i.e, sec 2 ( x ) 1, and solve the inequality f ( x ) > 0. The answer was ( 0 , π / 2 ).
My question is, if f ( x ) > 0, it just proves that f(x) is increasing in the interval, it doesn't prove if f(x) is always positive there. Ok, agreed that since tan 0 = 0, tan x > x in ( 0 , π / 2 ) since it's increasing. But there is possibility of loosing a solution right? It could be possible that in an interval tan x x is decreasing but tan(x) is still > x

Answer & Explanation

Jordyn Valdez

Jordyn Valdez

Beginner2022-09-30Added 8 answers

Step 1
Note that the derivative is positive everywhere it is defined, i.e. for all x ( 2 k + 1 ) π 2 .
Step 2
For a continuous function and x 1 > x 0 , if you know f ( x 0 ) > 0 and f increasing, then f ( x 1 ) > 0. But if f ( x 0 ) > 0 and f decreasing, you can't conclude about the sign of f ( x 1 )
Deanna Gregory

Deanna Gregory

Beginner2022-10-01Added 3 answers

Step 1
f ( x ) > 0 in the interval ( 0 , π 2 ), so f is increasing on this interval. Since f ( 0 ) = 0 and f is continuous on the interval, f must be positive on the interval.
Step 2
Note that f ( π 2 ) is undefined, and then f ( π 2 + ϵ ) for some small ϵ > 0 is negative. So we can say that f is always positive on the interval you've specified.

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