Problem

Problem

If tan⁡−12\tan^{-1} 2 , tan⁡−13\tan^{-1} 3 are two angles of a triangle. Then, find the third angle.
Intuitive explanation

The key insight is that the three angles of a triangle must sum to π\pi, so you need to find what tan⁡−12+tan⁡−13\tan^{-1} 2 + \tan^{-1} 3 equals, then subtract from π\pi. Use the tangent addition formula for inverse tangents: when xy<1xy < 1, tan⁡−1x+tan⁡−1y=tan⁡−1(x+y1−xy)\tan^{-1} x + \tan^{-1} y = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{x+y}{1-xy}\right). Here, since 2⋅3=6>12 \cdot 3 = 6 > 1, you're in the case where the sum exceeds π2\frac{\pi}{2}, which requires careful handling of the formula's domain.

Intuitive explanation

The key insight is that the three angles of a triangle must sum to π\pi, so you need to find what tan⁡−12+tan⁡−13\tan^{-1} 2 + \tan^{-1} 3 equals, then subtract from π\pi. Use the tangent addition formula for inverse tangents: when xy<1xy < 1, tan⁡−1x+tan⁡−1y=tan⁡−1(x+y1−xy)\tan^{-1} x + \tan^{-1} y = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{x+y}{1-xy}\right). Here, since 2⋅3=6>12 \cdot 3 = 6 > 1, you're in the case where the sum exceeds π2\frac{\pi}{2}, which requires careful handling of the formula's domain.

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