how to calculate the exact value of $\tan \frac{\pi}{10}$

I have an extra homework: to calculate the exact value of $\tan \frac{\pi}{10}$. From WolframAlpha calculator I know that it's $\sqrt{1-\frac{2}{\sqrt{5}}}$, but i have no idea how to calculate that.

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then you will get $\sin \frac{\pi}{10}$($\frac{2\pi }{5}+\frac{\pi}{10}=\frac{\pi}{2}$) ,then $\tan \frac{\pi}{10}$.

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Your textbook probably has an example, where $\cos(\pi/5)$ (or $\sin(\pi/5)$) has been worked out. I betcha it also has formulas for $\sin(\alpha/2)$ and $\cos(\alpha/2)$ expressed in terms of $\cos\alpha$. Take it from there.

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... or a formula for $\cos(2\pi/5)$... –  Jyrki Lahtonen Sep 15 '12 at 9:00
I wish you were right, but as I said before, it's an extra homework. If I could use any $\frac{\pi}{5}$ function, I'll do that by myself. I can't use in my calculations any angle values other than "standard" $\frac{\pi}{6}$, $\frac{\pi}{4}$, $\frac{\pi}{3}$, $\frac{\pi}{2}$, $\pi$, $0$. –  gogowitczak Sep 15 '12 at 12:42
In that case take a look at the answers to the question in Tao Hong's link. That should get you started! –  Jyrki Lahtonen Sep 15 '12 at 13:01

If $10x=\pi$ $\sin 2x=\cos 3x$ as $2x+3x=5x=\frac{\pi}{2}$ $\implies2\sin x \cos x=4\cos^3x-3\cos x$

$\implies 2\sin x=4\cos^2x-3$ as $\cos x≠0$

If $\sin x=t, 2t=4(1-t^2)-3\implies 4t^2+2t-1=0$

$$\implies t=\frac{-1±\sqrt{5}}{4}$$, but $\sin x>0$ as $0<x<\pi$

$$\sin \frac{\pi}{10}=\frac{\sqrt{5}-1}{4}$$

(1)So, $$\cos \frac{\pi}{10}=\sqrt{1-(\sin \frac{\pi}{10})^2}=\frac{\sqrt{10+2\sqrt5}}{4}$$

So, $$\tan \frac{\pi}{10}=\frac{\frac{\sqrt{5}-1}{4}}{\frac{\sqrt{10+2\sqrt5}}{4}}=\frac{\sqrt{5}-1}{\sqrt{10+2\sqrt5}}=\frac{\sqrt{5}-1}{\sqrt{10+2\sqrt5}}$$

$$=\sqrt{\frac{(\sqrt 5 -1)^2}{10+2\sqrt5}}=\sqrt{\frac{3-\sqrt 5}{\sqrt 5(\sqrt 5+1)}}=\sqrt{\frac{(3-\sqrt 5)(\sqrt 5 -1)}{\sqrt 5(\sqrt 5+1)(\sqrt 5 -1)}}=\sqrt{\frac{\sqrt 5-2}{\sqrt 5}}$$

Or(2) $$\cos \frac{\pi}{5}=1-2(\frac{\sqrt{5}-1}{4})^2=\frac{\sqrt 5 + 1}{4}$$

We know $$\cos2y=\frac{1-\tan^2y}{1+\tan^2y}\implies \tan^2y=\frac{1-\cos2y}{1+\cos2y}$$

So, $$\tan^2 \frac{\pi}{10}= \frac{1-\frac{\sqrt 5 + 1}{4}}{1+\frac{\sqrt 5 + 1}{4}}=\frac{3-\sqrt 5}{\sqrt 5(\sqrt 5+1)}$$ which we have already encountered in (1).

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$$\tan\frac{3\pi}{10}=\tan(\frac{\pi}{2}-\frac{2\pi}{10})=\cot\frac{2\pi}{10}$$

$$\frac{3\tan\frac{\pi}{10}-\tan^3\frac{\pi}{10}}{1-3\tan^2\frac{\pi}{10}}=\frac{\cot^2\frac{\pi}{10}-1}{2\cot\frac{\pi}{10}}$$

$$(3\tan\frac{\pi}{10}-\tan^3\frac{\pi}{10})(2\cot\frac{\pi}{10})=(\cot^2\frac{\pi}{10}-1)(1-3\tan^2\frac{\pi}{10})$$

$$6-2\tan^2\frac{\pi}{10}=\cot^2\frac{\pi}{10}-4+3\tan^2\frac{\pi}{10}$$

$$5\tan^2\frac{\pi}{10}-10+\cot^2\frac{\pi}{10}=0$$

$$5\tan^4\frac{\pi}{10}-10\tan^2\frac{\pi}{10}+1=0$$

$$\tan^2\frac{\pi}{10}=\frac{10\pm\sqrt{100-20}}{10}=\frac{10\pm4\sqrt{5}}{10}=1+\frac{2}{\sqrt{5}}\;\textrm{or}\;1-\frac{2}{\sqrt{5}}(\textrm{rej.})$$

$$\tan\frac{\pi}{10}=\sqrt{1+\frac{2}{\sqrt{5}}}\;\textrm{or}\;-\sqrt{1+\frac{2}{\sqrt{5}}}(\textrm{rej.})$$

$$∴\tan\frac{\pi}{10}=\sqrt{1+\frac{2}{\sqrt{5}}}$$

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$\pars{3}$ and $\pars{4}$ yield: $$0 = \pars{4x^{2} - 1}\cos\pars{3\theta} - 2\cos\pars{2\theta}x \tag{5}$$

$\pars{2}$ and $\pars{5}$ yield: $$0 = \pars{4x^{2} - 1}\bracks{2\cos\pars{2\theta} - 1}x - 2\cos\pars{2\theta}x = \pars{8x^{3} - 4x}\cos\pars{2\theta} - 4x^{3} + x$$ $$4\pars{2x^{2} - 1}\cos\pars{2\theta} - 4x^{2} + 1 = 0 \tag{6}$$

$\pars{1}$ and $\pars{6}$ yield: $$0 = 4\pars{2x^{2} - 1}^{2} - 4x^{2} + 1 = 4\pars{2x^{2} - 1}^{2} - 2\pars{2x^{2} - 1} - 1$$

Then, $$\pars{2x^{2} - 1}_{\pm} = {2 \pm \sqrt{\pars{-2}^{2} - 4\times 4\times\pars{-1}} \over 2\times 4} = {1 \pm \sqrt{5} \over 4}$$ Obviously, we take the "$+$ sign" as a solution: $$2x^{2} - 1 = {1 + \sqrt{5} \over 4} \quad\imp\quad x = \cos\pars{\pi \over 10} = \sqrt{{1 \over 2}\bracks{1 + {1 + \sqrt{5} \over 4}}} = \sqrt{{5 + \sqrt{5} \over 8}}$$ Then, \begin{align} \tan\pars{\pi \over 10} &= \sqrt{\bracks{1 \over \cos\pars{\pi/10}}^{2} - 1} = \sqrt{{8 \over 5 + \sqrt{5\,}} - 1} = \sqrt{3 - \sqrt{5\,} \over 5 + \sqrt{5\,}} = \sqrt{1 - 2\,{1 + \sqrt{5\,} \over 5 + \sqrt{5}}} \\[3mm]&= \sqrt{1 - 2\,{\pars{1 + \sqrt{5\,}}\pars{5 - \sqrt{5\,}} \over 20}} = \sqrt{1 - {4\sqrt{5\,} \over 10}} = \sqrt{1 - {2 \over \sqrt{5\,}}} \\[5mm]& \end{align}

$${\large% \tan\pars{\pi \over 10} = \sqrt{1 - {2 \over \sqrt{5\,}}}}$$

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