Given a point (5,-5)on the terminal side of angle q find the value of tanq
Plot the point (5,-5)
Draw the radius vector from the origin to
the point (5,-5):
Indicate with a curved line the angle q measured
counter-clockwise from the right side of the
x-axis around to the radius vector.
Draw the x and the y coordinates, forming
a right triangle:
Draw another arc (the red one below) to
represent the REFERENCE angle, the one
with vertex at the origin which is
inside the triangle:
Since
The side OPPOSITE the reference angle (red arc) is
y=-5 and the ADJACENT side to the reference
angle is x=5, then the tangent of the angle in
standard position which is q,
(black arc), has the tangent
, so we
end up with
tanq =
Edwin