[dongonaeatu]

theta is an acute angle and sin theta =1/4 find the exact value of tan

isnt tan=costheta/sintheta?

how do i answer this

[TenOfThem]

If sin = 1/4

then opp=1 and hyp=4

what is adj

hence what is tan

[Doctor.]

--- mistake

[dongonaeatu]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
If sin = 1/4

then opp=1 and hyp=4

what is adj

hence what is tan

tan is o/a

so i know what opposite is as its 1

but i dont have the adjacent

[dongonaeatu]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
If sin = 1/4

then opp=1 and hyp=4

what is adj

hence what is tan

is the h square root of 5

[TenOfThem]

(Original post by dongonaeatu)
tan is o/a

so i know what opposite is as its 1

but i dont have the adjacent

but you do have 2 sides so surely you know how to find adj

[TenOfThem]

(Original post by dongonaeatu)
is the h square root of 5

no, h = 4

[dongonaeatu]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
but you do have 2 sides so surely you know how to find adj

is it square root of 5

[dongonaeatu]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
no, h = 4

sorry, is adjacent square root of 5

[TenOfThem]

(Original post by dongonaeatu)
is it square root of 5

no

how do you get that

[lukas1051]

(Original post by dongonaeatu)
theta is an acute angle and sin theta =1/4 find the exact value of tan

isnt tan=costheta/sintheta?

how do i answer this

sin(T) = opp/hyp

So draw out the triangle. Use Pythagoras (hyp^2 = adj^2 x opp^2) to calculate adj

tan(T) = opp/adj

[dongonaeatu]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
no

how do you get that

is it 5^2

[TenOfThem]

(Original post by dongonaeatu)
is it 5^2

What are you doing to get these numbers

You have a right angled triangle

The Hyp = 4

The Opp = 1

You are looking for the third side


Remind me what exam level you are studying for

[dongonaeatu]

(Original post by lukas1051)
sin(T) = opp/hyp

So draw out the triangle. Use Pythagoras (hyp^2 = adj^2 x opp^2) to calculate adj

tan(T) = opp/adj

doesnt it equal 5 then?

[dongonaeatu]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
What are you doing to get these numbers

You have a right angled triangle

The Hyp = 4

The Opp = 1

You are looking for the third side


Remind me what exam level you are studying for

okay so pythagorus therom a^2+b^2=c^2
4^2+1^2=c^2
16+1=c^2
c= square root of 17
so the a = square root of 17?
AS level c2

[Luminescent]

I don't know how much trigonometry you know, but I'll try and be as simple as possible. sin is opposite over hypotenuse, tangent is opposite over adjacent. Since sinx=1/4, we assume the opposite is 1 and the hypotenuse is 4. Pythagoras' theorem tells us that the adjacent length is sqrt(15). Hence, tanx=1/sqrt(15).

[*Nasir*]

so from sin(x) = 1/4 we know that:

opp= 1 hyp= 4

so by Pythagoras' Theorem: opp^2 + adj^2= hyp^2

rearranging to get adj = sqrt(hyp^2-opp^2)

so adj = sqrt(4^2 - 1^2) = sqrt(16 - 1) = sqrt(15)

And as tan(x) = opp/adj

so tan(x) = 1/sqrt(15)

[Luminescent]

(Original post by dongonaeatu)
okay so pythagorus therom a^2+b^2=c^2
4^2+1^2=c^2
16+1=c^2
c= square root of 17
so the a = square root of 17?
AS level c2

Remember c is the longest side! So you have 1+b^2=16.
b=sqrt(15)

[just george]

(Original post by dongonaeatu)
okay so pythagorus therom a^2+b^2=c^2
4^2+1^2=c^2
16+1=c^2
c= square root of 17
so the a = square root of 17?
AS level c2

c = hypotenuse..

so a^2 + b^2 = c^2

a^2 + 1^2 = 4^2

[lukas1051]

(Original post by dongonaeatu)
okay so pythagorus therom a^2+b^2=c^2
4^2+1^2=c^2
16+1=c^2
c= square root of 17
so the a = square root of 17?
AS level c2

No. The hypotenuse, c = 4. You are looking for the adjacent side (a or b)

4^2 = 1^2 + b^2

4^2 - 1^2 = b^2

16 - 1 = b^2

15 = b^2

b = adj = sqrt(15)

You now how the opposite and adjacent sides. What does tan(T) now equal?