how do you find tan. i have a traingle with a 90 degree angle. the adjacent side is 15 and the hypotanuse is 18. What do I do?
2007-05-31 14:25:36 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
There are several ways to do it... one way is by applying Pythagoras to figure out the length of the opposite side.
15^2 + opp^2 = 18^2
opp^2 = 18^2 - 15^2
opp^2 = 324 - 225 = 99
opp = sqrt(99) = 3 sqrt(11), or 9.95
Now you can easily figure out tan = opp/adj.
It turns out the tangent is sqrt(11)/5, or approximately 0.663.
Hope that helps!
2007-05-31 14:33:21 · answer #1 · answered by Bramblyspam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tangent=opposite/adjacent
Opposite means the side that does not touch the angle you are using but is not the hypotenuse.
Adjacent means the side that touches the angle you are using but is not the hypotenuse.
Pick an angle. Ex: Angle M
First, we want to use the pythagorean theorem (c^2=a^2+b^2) to find out the length of the opposite side.
the hypotenuse is 18 and the other leg is 15.
(18)^2=a^2+(15)^2
324=a^2+225
Solve for a.
a^2=99
a=â(99)
Simplify
a=3â(11)
Now, use tangent=opposite/adjacent
The opposite leg is 3â(11) and the adjacent leg is 15.
3â(11)/15= about .66332
Hope it helps ;)
2007-05-31 21:36:16 · answer #2 · answered by cheesysoundeffectz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use SOH CAH TOA (Sine: Opposite/Hypotenuse Cosine:Adjacent/Hypotenuse Tangent: Opposite/Adjacent).
Tangent is O/A, so you need to find the length of the opposite side. To do this, we use the Pythagorean Theorem (a^2 + b^2= c^2).
We know a^2 (15^2) and c^2 (18^2). Now we solve for b^2.
b^2= c^2- a^2
b^2= 324-225
b^2= 99
b= square root of 99
b~ 10
So, back to O/A.
O=10, and A=15. Tan= 2/3 in simplest form.
2007-05-31 21:40:32 · answer #3 · answered by Samantha 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use the pythagorean theorem to find the third side : 18^2 = 15^2 + b^2. b = 3sqrt(11)
tangent = opposite / adjacent = (3sqrt(11))/15 = sqrt(11)/5.
Your answer is sqrt(11)/5.
2007-05-31 21:29:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
use Pythagorean theorem (c^2=a^2+b^2, where a and b are the lengths of the legs of a right triangle and c is the length of the hypotenuse) to determine the length of the opposite side, then tan is opposite side over the adjacent side
2007-05-31 21:29:36 · answer #5 · answered by heythere 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
tan x = adj / hyp = 15/18 = 0.8333
x = 39.8 degrees
2007-05-31 21:27:50 · answer #6 · answered by richardwptljc 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
tangent = opposite
_________
adjacent
2007-05-31 21:28:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋