document.write( "Question 756774: I am confused on the tan(x-y) if tan x = 24/7 and tan y = -4/3...how is tan (x-y) = -4/3? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #460446 by Edwin McCravy(20060) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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I am confused on the tan(x-y) if tan x = 24/7 and tan y = -4/3...how is tan (x-y) = -4/3?
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document.write( "I agree it seems strange that tan(x-y) and tan(y) are the same, but it's\r\n" );
document.write( "a fact here.  [It has to do with the fact that both angles are from integer right triangles.  x is from a 7-24-25 right triangle and y is from a 3-4-5\r\n" );
document.write( "right triangle.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Use the identity:\r\n" );
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document.write( "tan(x-y) = \r\n" );
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document.write( "tan(x-y) =  =  =  =  =  =   =  = \r\n" );
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document.write( " =  =  =  =  = \r\n" );
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document.write( "Since it seems strange that both tan(y) and tan(x-y) can both be .  let's check it with a calculator:\r\n" );
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document.write( "x = 73.73979529°, y=126.8398976°\r\n" );
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document.write( "x-y = 73.73979529° - 126.8398976° = -53.13010235°\r\n" );
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document.write( "tan(y) = tan(126.8398976°) = -1.333333333\r\n" );
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document.write( "tan(x-y) = tan(-53.13010235) = -1.333333333\r\n" );
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document.write( "So you see that, strange as it seems, this is the case!\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin

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