Finding a missing angle
The question
degrees
Find the angle: opposite 13, adjacent 4
How it works.
tan x=13 ÷ 4
x=tan⁻¹(13 ÷ 4)
x=73°
- 01
You know the two legs: the side opposite the angle is 13, and the side next to it (adjacent) is 4. Opposite over adjacent is the tangent.
- 02
To undo the tangent, use inverse tangent (tan⁻¹ on the calculator): x = tan⁻¹(13 ÷ 4).
- 03
13 ÷ 4 = 3.25, and tan⁻¹ of that is 73° to the nearest degree.