Tangents

Laughsingrun · 2010-10-31 10:48:12

If I'm given the degree of an angle (37degrees, for example) how do I find the tangent of the angle?

bobbym · 2010-10-31 10:58:19

Hi Laughsingrun;

The absolute fastest way if they are not asking you to do something specific, is to use a table or a calculator.

Here is the table NASA uses? Are they serious?

http://quest.nasa.gov/space/teachers/ro … t9ws4.html

or

http://www.mathsisfun.com/scientific-calculator.html

And make sure that that calculator is in degree mode.

Does the question say no calculators or tables? If so then we will have to use trig identities and maybe the Taylor series.
So, please let me know.

Laughsingrun · 2010-10-31 11:24:42

Thanks that worked.
But if I have something like tan K = .575, what is K?

bobbym · 2010-10-31 11:36:56

Hi Laughsingrun;

You have to use the ArcTan function, Arctan can be loosely read as the angle whose Tan is. The ArcTan function is the inverse of the Tan.

To show you how to compute from the table, go to the table, look for .575 in the tangent column or as close as you can get and read the k value in the degree column. The closest is on the bottom .5773 and the degree colum says it is approximately 30 degrees.

Or use the calculator, put the calc in degree mode.
Then enter .575 and press atan ( that stands for ArcTan).
It will say 29.8989018386146 degrees which is pretty close to the 30 degrees we figured from the table.

So k is 29.8989018386146 degrees.

Math Is Fun Forum

#1 2010-10-31 10:48:12

Tangents

#2 2010-10-31 10:58:19

Re: Tangents

#3 2010-10-31 11:24:42

Re: Tangents

#4 2010-10-31 11:36:56

Re: Tangents

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