Using tangent to find the missing length of a triangle

The video tutorial explains how to work with right triangles by identifying the hypotenuse, adjacent, and opposite sides. It introduces trigonometric functions—sine, cosine, and tangent—and demonstrates how to use the tangent function to solve for an unknown side length when given an angle and one side. The tutorial includes a practical example using a 52-degree angle and an adjacent side of 13 units, leading to a calculation of the opposite side using a calculator.

Which side of a right triangle is always opposite the right angle?

• Opposite side

• Adjacent side

• Base

• Hypotenuse

What is the sine of an angle in a right triangle defined as?

• Adjacent over hypotenuse

• Hypotenuse over opposite

• Opposite over hypotenuse

• Opposite over adjacent

Which trigonometric function is used when you have the opposite and adjacent sides of a right triangle?

• Sine

• Secant

• Cosine

• Tangent

If the tangent of an angle is 52 degrees and the adjacent side is 13, what is the formula to find the opposite side?

• X = 13 / tan(52)

• X = 13 * tan(52)

• X = tan(52) / 13

• X = 13 + tan(52)

What should you ensure about your calculator before calculating trigonometric functions?

• It is in scientific mode

• It is in radian mode

• It is in basic mode

• It is in degree mode