SOLUTION: if you know two sides of a right triangle are 8, 15, and 17, what is the tangent of the smallest angle?

Question 687914: if you know two sides of a right triangle are 8, 15, and 17, what is the tangent of the smallest angle?
Answer by fcabanski(1391) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The smallest angle is opposite the smallest side. So 8 is opposite the smallest side. The hypotenuse is the longest side (17). The side adjacent to the smallest angle is 15. tan is opposite/adjacent = 8/15 = appox .533 and the angle is about 28 degrees.

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