Example: Calculator to evaluate inverse trig function | Trigonometry | Khan Academy

TL;DR

Use the inverse tangent function on a calculator to find the angle, which is approximately 41 degrees.

Transcript

Use your calculator to find the angle to the nearest degree, whose tangent value is 0.875. So what do you think that's going to be? The angle to the nearest degree, whose tangent value is 0.875. Well, the first thing is to be careful. They are not asking for the tangent of 0.875. They're not saying that 0.875 is an angle and we want to find the tan... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔺 The problem involves finding the angle with a given tangent value, not finding the tangent of a specific angle.
• ❓ The inverse tangent function is necessary to solve the problem.
• 🔺 The angle can be found using either a traditional calculator or a graphing calculator.
• ↩️ The inverse tangent function returns the angle in degrees when in degree mode on the calculator.
• 🏪 The angle can be rounded to the nearest degree for convenience.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do you find the angle when given the tangent value?

To find the angle with a given tangent value, you can use the inverse tangent function. By taking the inverse tangent of the value, you can determine the angle.

Q: What is the difference between the tangent and inverse tangent functions?

The tangent function gives the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side in a right triangle. The inverse tangent function, on the other hand, gives the angle when provided with the tangent value.

Q: Can you find the angle in radians instead of degrees?

Yes, if your calculator is in radians mode, the inverse tangent function will return the angle in radians instead of degrees.

Q: How do you find the inverse tangent function on a calculator?

On most calculators, you can access the inverse tangent function by pressing the "inverse" or "2nd" button, followed by the tangent function. It is usually denoted as tan^(-1) or arctan.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The content explains how to find the angle to the nearest degree, given the tangent value of 0.875.

• The inverse tangent function, also known as the arc tangent function, is used to solve the problem.

• By taking the inverse tangent of 0.875, the angle is determined to be approximately 41 degrees.