Trig Question

https://www.quora.com/profile/Bravewarrior/p-144933495
Here is the question and its solution. How is the gradient of the line basically tan theta?

Reply 1

SigmaBoy69

Original post by pigeonwarrior

https://www.quora.com/profile/Bravewarrior/p-144933495
Here is the question and its solution. How is the gradient of the line basically tan theta?

Since the tan function is Opposite/Adjacent, we can see that we can create a triangle with y=3/4x, the x axis, and another side connecting the others (opposite the angle theta). The opposite (the vertical line, and therefore the y value) will be 3/4 of the x value (the adjacent, x-axis) since that is what the line's equation is. So tan theta is 3/4, the ratio between the side opposite the angle and the adjacent side. Hope this helped.

Reply 2

the bear

20

gradient = up/across

tan = up/across

:qed:

Reply 3

pigeonwarrior

OP

11

Original post by SigmaBoy69

Since the tan function is Opposite/Adjacent, we can see that we can create a triangle with y=3/4x, the x axis, and another side connecting the others (opposite the angle theta). The opposite (the vertical line, and therefore the y value) will be 3/4 of the x value (the adjacent, x-axis) since that is what the line's equation is. So tan theta is 3/4, the ratio between the side opposite the angle and the adjacent side. Hope this helped.