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Mathematics — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. [2]
If $\tan\theta + \frac{1}{\tan\theta} = 2$, find the value of $\tan^2\theta + \frac{1}{\tan^2\theta}$.
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2026 30/2/1 Q24(a)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 10:25 · grounding rag
Model Answer

Given: $\tan\theta + \dfrac{1}{\tan\theta} = 2$

Squaring both sides:

$$\left(\tan\theta + \frac{1}{\tan\theta}\right)^2 = 4$$

$$\tan^2\theta + 2\cdot\tan\theta\cdot\frac{1}{\tan\theta} + \frac{1}{\tan^2\theta} = 4$$

$$\tan^2\theta + \frac{1}{\tan^2\theta} + 2 = 4$$

$$\therefore \tan^2\theta + \frac{1}{\tan^2\theta} = 2$$

Explanation

The key step is squaring the given expression and using the identity $(a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2$. The middle term $2 \cdot \tan\theta \cdot \frac{1}{\tan\theta} = 2$ simplifies neatly. Examiners expect the squaring step to be shown clearly — don't skip it. This is a standard algebraic manipulation question disguised as trigonometry.

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