1. What is the Tangent Formula?

The tangent of an angle in a right triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the adjacent side. It's one of the primary trigonometric functions.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the tangent formula:

Where:

• \( \theta \) — Angle in the right triangle
• opposite — Length of side opposite to the angle
• adjacent — Length of side adjacent to the angle

Explanation: The tangent function relates the ratio of two sides of a right triangle to one of its non-right angles.

3. Importance of Tangent Calculation

Details: Tangent is fundamental in trigonometry, used in navigation, engineering, physics, and computer graphics. It helps solve problems involving right triangles and periodic phenomena.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter lengths of the opposite and adjacent sides in any consistent units. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if my triangle isn't right-angled?
A: The tangent formula only applies to right triangles. For other triangles, you would need to use the Law of Tangents or other trigonometric formulas.

Q2: Can I use this to find the angle?
A: To find the angle, you would need to use the inverse tangent (arctangent) function on the ratio.

Q3: What units should I use?
A: Any consistent units can be used (cm, m, inches, etc.) as long as both sides are in the same units.

Q4: What's the range of tangent values?
A: Tangent values range from negative infinity to positive infinity, with undefined values at 90° and 270°.

Q5: How is tangent used in real life?
A: Applications include calculating heights of buildings, angles in construction, and in computer graphics for perspective calculations.