Question

Sin Ø = -8/17 and cos Ø = 15/17. Find tan Ø

Answer 1

-8/15

Explanation:

So remember what sin, cos, and tan are.

sin = opposite/hypotenuse

cos = adjacent/hypotenuse

tan = opposite/adjacent

Now, using what we know of sin and cos, lets find opposite and adjacent to solve for tan.

Sin=-8/17

So this must mean that opposite is -8, and the hypotenuse is 17.

Next, lets find adjacent. Cos = 15/17

So this must mean that adjacent is 15, and again, hypotenuse is 17.

Now lets take the -8 of the opposite, and 15 of the adjacent, and get tan.

Tan: -8/15.

17 is not included in this whatsoever, since hypotenuse is not included in tan. And remember that it cannot be -15/8, since its opposite/adjacent, not adjacent/opposite.

Hope this helps!