Question

Use the tangent to find the length of side DE.Express your answer to the nearest tenth. 13 E F 18 units. The length of side DE is approximately Cher Answer NALES

Answer 1

To find a missing side using the tangent we need to remember the definition of the tangent:

`\tan \theta=(op)/(hy)`

where op means the opposite leg and hy means the hypotenuse of the triangle.

Now, in any given trouble we have to plug the values of the angle and the leg we know and then we solve the equation for the missing side.

Example.

Assume we have the following triangle:

If we need to find x we notice that we know the angle and the adjacent leg, then we ca use:

`\tan 45=(x)/(1)`

Then:

`\begin{gathered} x=1\cdot\tan 45 \\ x=1\cdot1 \\ x=1 \end{gathered}`

That's how you use the tangent.