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Evaluate tan 30° without using a calculator by using ratios in a reference triangle. Please Explain!

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tan 30 degrees would be equivalent to sin(30)/cos(30).
Sin(30) is 1/2, and cos(30) is (3)^(1/2)/2.
((1/2)/((3^1/2)/2) can be made easier to solve by taking the reciprocal of the denominator, and inverting it.
This leaves (1/2)*(2/(3^(1/2)).
The 2 in the denominator of sin(30) cancels the 2 in the numerator of cos(30).
Leaving (1/1)*(1/(3^1/2)).
Here, you can see that tan(30) equals 1/(3^(1/2)).

In regards to triangles, sin(30) is referring to a 30 degree angle in a 1-(3)^(1/2)-2 triangle, where sin is opposite/hypotenuse, and, so, is opposite the smaller, 1, leg.
As such, cos(30) is adjacent/hypotenuse and would be adjacent to the 3^(1/2), larger, leg. The hypotenuse is the same in both instances, in order to accommodate the Pythagorean theorem.
User Samshel
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3 votes

Answer:

The value of
\tan 30\degree is
(1)/(√(3))

Explanation:

In triangle ABC (figure -1)


\tan \theta =(prependicular)/(base)


\tan \theta =(BC)/(AB)


\tan 30\degree =(1)/(√(3))

Hence, the value of
\tan 30\degree is
(1)/(√(3))

Evaluate tan 30° without using a calculator by using ratios in a reference triangle-example-1
User Julien Athomas
by
7.7k points

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