SOLUTION: what is the tan of angle B on a right triangle when BC equals 5 CA equals 12 and AB equals 13

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Question 393679: what is the tan of angle B on a right triangle when BC equals 5 CA equals 12 and AB equals 13
Found 2 solutions by jsmallt9, ewatrrr:
Answer by jsmallt9(3758) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The ratio for tangent is opposite over adjacent. Sketching this triangle may help you understand how to do this problem.

Since AB is the longest side it must be the hypotenuse. This makes angle C the right angle. So draw a triangle with C being a right angle and with the sides being the lengths given.

Looking at this triangle you should be able to see that the opposote side for angle B is AC (or 12) and the adjacent side for angle B is BC (or 5) So this makes:
tan(B) = 5/12

Answer by ewatrrr(24785) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Hi

tan ∠B = opp/adj , that is sides opp and adj to ∠B which would be:

tan ∠B = 12/5 

diagram for illustration purposes only. 

In this question BC(adj to ∠B  ) is the 'short' leg