SOLUTION: This is about vectors, tangent,and direction. Can someone show me the steps to using tangent to find the directions? Heres a problem, and the book i have skips some steps(assumin

Algebra ->  Trigonometry-basics -> SOLUTION: This is about vectors, tangent,and direction. Can someone show me the steps to using tangent to find the directions? Heres a problem, and the book i have skips some steps(assumin      Log On


   

Question 200293This question is from textbook Geometry
: This is about vectors, tangent,and direction.
Can someone show me the steps to using tangent to find the directions?
Heres a problem, and the book i have skips some steps(assuming you can figure the steps out on your own, i guess)
1) A pilot flys due north at 250 miles per hour. If the wind is blowing due east at 20 mph what is the direction of the plane?
(Heres what they show for how to get the answer)
tan0=20/250
0=tan^-1(20/250)
0=4.6
They only show three steps and i dont know how they go from 0=^tan-1(20/250) to 0=4.6?????
because 20/250=.08 and so if you tan^-1 (.08) you get about .079, which isnt close to 4.6

Please explain to me what they do to get a tan^-1(20/250) to 4.6
This question is from textbook Geometry

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
What gets students the most in trig is that they are in the wrong mode (it gets me all the time too). You're in radian mode when you want to be in degree mode. Once you make the change, you'll get the right answer.