Proving that $\cos(\frac{\arctan(\frac{11}{2})}{3}) = \frac{2}{\sqrt{5}}$ I am trying to solve the cubic equation $x^3-15x-4=0$ using Cardano's formula.  I already know that the solutions are $x=4$, $x= \sqrt{3}-2$ and $x= -\sqrt{3}-2$ and that using the formula in this problem requires finding the cube roots of $2+11i$ and $2-11i$, which are $2+i$ and $2-i$.  But when I try to use the formula on my calculator, a TI-89 Titanium, I get $2\sqrt 5 \sin \left( \frac{\arctan(\frac{2}{11})}{3}+\pi/3 \right)$ instead of $4$.  For some reason, the fact that $(2+i)^3 = 2 +11i$ and $x = 4$ is a zero of $x^3-15x-4$ feels like a byproduct of something else. So I have tried for more than a month to prove that $\cos(\frac{\arctan(\frac{11}{2})}{3}) = \frac{2}{\sqrt{5}}$ without using either of these results.  

Let $\cos\theta=\frac2{\sqrt5}$.  Then
$$\cos3\theta=4\cos^3\theta-3\cos\theta=\frac2{5\sqrt5}$$
and so
$$\tan3\theta=\frac{\sqrt{(5\sqrt5)^2-2^2}}2=\frac{11}2\ .$$
