# Having trouble with this trigonometry problem

Having trouble solving this trigonometry problem I came across. Any help would be greatly appreciated

If $\sqrt{3}cot^2\theta -4cot\theta + \sqrt{3} = 0$

Find the value of $cot^2\theta + tan^2\theta$

Thank you so much guys!

• @Abhishekstudent I got the answer. Given in a nice and concise proof below. Thanks anyway! – Aman Bhargava Sep 13 '16 at 12:32
• Good to know! Best Of Luck! – Abhishekstudent Sep 13 '16 at 12:33

Hint:-

Let,$\cot\theta=x$

So, $\sqrt3 x^2-4x+\sqrt3=0$

$\implies\sqrt3x^2-3x-x+\sqrt3=0$

$\implies(\sqrt3x-1)(x-\sqrt3)=0$

So,$\cot\theta=\color{red}{\frac{1}{\sqrt3}}$ or $\color{blue}{\sqrt3}$

So,$\tan\theta=\color{red}{\sqrt3}$ or $\color{blue}{\frac{1}{\sqrt3}}$

• Okay wow, that was really fast. Thanks so much! I can see what I was missing. It turned out to be a simple quadratic! But thank you so much! I love this community :') – Aman Bhargava Sep 13 '16 at 12:26
• @AmanBhargava Welcome to Math SE!!If you like my answer you can thank me by upvoting and accepting the answer!! – tatan Sep 13 '16 at 12:27
• I surely will! It doesn't allow me to do so within 10 mins, but I will surely upvote and accept your answer. Nice to know that this isn't a hostile community like Stackoverflow. People here are really friendly and helpful! – Aman Bhargava Sep 13 '16 at 12:29
• @AmanBhargava Thanks!!You see,I also had a lot of problem when I began in StackOverflow....its not that they are hostile but StackOverflow is mostly for high end experts so beginners like we are have problem in adapting at first.... – tatan Sep 13 '16 at 12:31
• @AmanBhargava 10th Grade (I'm from India)... – tatan Sep 13 '16 at 12:35