Prove that cot(π/8) = √2 + 1

Prove that \[ \cot\frac{\pi}{8}=\sqrt2+1 \]

Proof: Using the half-angle identity: \[ \tan\frac{\theta}{2} = \frac{1-\cos\theta}{\sin\theta} \] Let \[ \theta=\frac{\pi}{4} \] Then, \[ \tan\frac{\pi}{8} = \frac{1-\cos\frac{\pi}{4}}{\sin\frac{\pi}{4}} \] Using standard values: \[ \sin\frac{\pi}{4}=\frac{\sqrt2}{2} \] and \[ \cos\frac{\pi}{4}=\frac{\sqrt2}{2} \] Substituting: \[ \tan\frac{\pi}{8} = \frac{1-\frac{\sqrt2}{2}}{\frac{\sqrt2}{2}} \] \[ = \frac{2-\sqrt2}{\sqrt2} \] \[ = \sqrt2-1 \] Therefore, \[ \cot\frac{\pi}{8} = \frac{1}{\tan\frac{\pi}{8}} = \frac{1}{\sqrt2-1} \] Rationalizing: \[ = \frac{\sqrt2+1}{(\sqrt2-1)(\sqrt2+1)} \] \[ = \frac{\sqrt2+1}{2-1} \] \[ = \sqrt2+1 \] Hence proved, \[ \boxed{ \cot\frac{\pi}{8}=\sqrt2+1 } \]

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