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If \(\rm tan A = {3 \over 8},\) then the value of \({3 \sin A + 2 \cos A} \over 3 \sin A - 2 \cos A\) is:

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2023 (Tier-II) Paper 1 Previous Year Paper (26-Oct-2023) (Shift-1)
The correct answer is \(- {25 \over7}\)

Finding the Value of a Trigonometric Expression

The question asks us to find the value of the expression \( \frac{3 \sin A + 2 \cos A}{3 \sin A - 2 \cos A} \) given that \( \tan A = \frac{3}{8} \).

We are given the value of \( \tan A \). Recall that the trigonometric identity \( \tan A = \frac{\sin A}{\cos A} \) relates sine, cosine, and tangent. We can use this relationship to simplify the given expression.

Transforming the Expression using tan A

The expression we need to evaluate is:

\[ \frac{3 \sin A + 2 \cos A}{3 \sin A - 2 \cos A} \]

To introduce \( \tan A \) into this expression, we can divide both the numerator and the denominator by \( \cos A \). This is valid as long as \( \cos A \ne 0 \). If \( \cos A = 0 \), then \( \tan A \) would be undefined, which contradicts the given information \( \tan A = \frac{3}{8} \).

Dividing the numerator by \( \cos A \):

\[ \frac{3 \sin A + 2 \cos A}{\cos A} = \frac{3 \sin A}{\cos A} + \frac{2 \cos A}{\cos A} = 3 \tan A + 2 \]

Dividing the denominator by \( \cos A \):

\[ \frac{3 \sin A - 2 \cos A}{\cos A} = \frac{3 \sin A}{\cos A} - \frac{2 \cos A}{\cos A} = 3 \tan A - 2 \]

So the original expression transforms into:

\[ \frac{3 \tan A + 2}{3 \tan A - 2} \]

Substituting the Value of tan A

Now we substitute the given value \( \tan A = \frac{3}{8} \) into the transformed expression:

\[ \frac{3 \left( \frac{3}{8} \right) + 2}{3 \left( \frac{3}{8} \right) - 2} \]

First, calculate the products in the numerator and the denominator:

\[ 3 \left( \frac{3}{8} \right) = \frac{3 \times 3}{8} = \frac{9}{8} \]

Substitute this back into the expression:

\[ \frac{\frac{9}{8} + 2}{\frac{9}{8} - 2} \]

Next, we need to add and subtract the fractions. To do this, we write the integer 2 as a fraction with a denominator of 8:

\[ 2 = \frac{2 \times 8}{8} = \frac{16}{8} \]

Now substitute \( 2 = \frac{16}{8} \) into the expression:

\[ \frac{\frac{9}{8} + \frac{16}{8}}{\frac{9}{8} - \frac{16}{8}} \]

Perform the addition in the numerator and the subtraction in the denominator:

Numerator: \( \frac{9}{8} + \frac{16}{8} = \frac{9 + 16}{8} = \frac{25}{8} \)

Denominator: \( \frac{9}{8} - \frac{16}{8} = \frac{9 - 16}{8} = \frac{-7}{8} \)

So the expression becomes:

\[ \frac{\frac{25}{8}}{\frac{-7}{8}} \]

To divide these fractions, we multiply the numerator by the reciprocal of the denominator:

\[ \frac{25}{8} \times \frac{8}{-7} \]

We can cancel out the 8 in the numerator and denominator:

\[ \frac{25}{\cancel{8}} \times \frac{\cancel{8}}{-7} = \frac{25}{-7} \]

The value of the expression is \( - \frac{25}{7} \).

Conclusion

Given \( \tan A = \frac{3}{8} \), the value of \( \frac{3 \sin A + 2 \cos A}{3 \sin A - 2 \cos A} \) is \( - \frac{25}{7} \).

Step Process Result
1 Transform expression by dividing numerator and denominator by \( \cos A \) \( \frac{3 \tan A + 2}{3 \tan A - 2} \)
2 Substitute \( \tan A = \frac{3}{8} \) \( \frac{3(\frac{3}{8}) + 2}{3(\frac{3}{8}) - 2} \)
3 Simplify using fraction arithmetic \( \frac{\frac{9}{8} + \frac{16}{8}}{\frac{9}{8} - \frac{16}{8}} = \frac{\frac{25}{8}}{\frac{-7}{8}} \)
4 Perform fraction division \( \frac{25}{8} \times \frac{8}{-7} = - \frac{25}{7} \)

Revision Table: Key Trigonometric Identities and Fraction Operations

  • Tangent Identity: \( \tan A = \frac{\sin A}{\cos A} \)
  • Adding/Subtracting Fractions: \( \frac{a}{b} \pm \frac{c}{d} = \frac{ad \pm bc}{bd} \). If denominators are same: \( \frac{a}{b} \pm \frac{c}{b} = \frac{a \pm c}{b} \)
  • Dividing Fractions: \( \frac{\frac{a}{b}}{\frac{c}{d}} = \frac{a}{b} \times \frac{d}{c} \)

Additional Information: Finding sin A and cos A from tan A

If you are given \( \tan A \), you can also find the values of \( \sin A \) and \( \cos A \) directly, although it is not necessary for this specific problem. One way is to use the identity \( 1 + \tan^2 A = \sec^2 A \). Since \( \sec A = \frac{1}{\cos A} \), you can find \( \cos A \). Once you have \( \cos A \), you can use \( \sin A = \tan A \times \cos A \) to find \( \sin A \).

Alternatively, you can construct a right-angled triangle. If \( \tan A = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}} = \frac{3}{8} \), you can assume the opposite side is 3 units and the adjacent side is 8 units. Using the Pythagorean theorem (\(\text{hypotenuse}^2 = \text{opposite}^2 + \text{adjacent}^2\)), the hypotenuse would be \( \sqrt{3^2 + 8^2} = \sqrt{9 + 64} = \sqrt{73} \). Then \( \sin A = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}} = \frac{3}{\sqrt{73}} \) and \( \cos A = \frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypotenuse}} = \frac{8}{\sqrt{73}} \). You could substitute these values into the original expression, which would lead to the same result but involve more complex algebra with square roots.

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