7 - ...

This result may be proved in various ways: it may also be verified by calculation. To do this, remember that if

a1

b1+
a2

b2+
a3

b3+ ...
an

bn
= Pn

Qn
; then
P1=a1,P2=b2 P1,P3=b3 P2+a3 P1,P4=b4 P3+a4 P2, etc.
Q1=b1,Q2=b2 Q1+a2,Q3=b3 Q2+a3 Q1,Q4=b4 Q3+a4 Q2, etc.

in the case before us we have

a1=x,a2=-x2,a3=-x2,a4=-x2,a5=-x2, etc.
b1=1,b2=3,b3=5,b4=7,b5=9, etc.
P1=xQ1=1
P2=3xQ2=3-x2
P3=15x-x3Q3=15-6x2
P4=105x-10x3Q4=105-45x2+x4
P5=945x-105x3+x5Q5=945-420x2+15x4
P6=10395x-1260x3+21x5Q6=10395-4725x2+210x4-x6

We can use this algebraically, or arithmetically. If we divide Pn by Qn, we shall find a series agreeing with the known series for tan x, as far as n terms. That series is

x + x3

3
+ 2x5

15
+ 17x7

315
+ 62x9

2835
+ ...