# Math Help - trigonometric functions

1. ## trigonometric functions

an angle is measured at 1.7 radians.
what is its measure in degrees minutes and seconds?
what is its tangent?

i got that its 97degrees24minutes10seconds

but cant work out how to get its tangent.

i also need help finding 4 values for x (in radians) for which cosx = 1/2 would have been lovely if my graphics calculator hadn't run out of batteries!!

2. Originally Posted by helmszee
an angle is measured at 1.7 radians.
what is its measure in degrees minutes and seconds?
what is its tangent?

i got that its 97degrees24minutes10seconds
correct

but cant work out how to get its tangent.
don't they just mean to plug in the angle in your calculator and press tangent?

i also need help finding 4 values for x (in radians) for which cosx = 1/2 would have been lovely if my graphics calculator hadn't run out of batteries!!
$\cos x = \frac 12$

$\Rightarrow x = \frac {\pi}3 + 2n \pi$ or $x = \frac {5 \pi}3 + 2m \pi$, for $m,n \in \mathbb {Z}$

now pick any four solutions you want, by varying m and n

3. Originally Posted by Jhevon
correct

don't they just mean to plug in the angle in your calculator and press tangent?

$\cos x = \frac 12$

$\Rightarrow x = \frac {\pi}3 + 2n \pi$ or $x = \frac {5 \pi}3 + 2m \pi$, for $m,n \in \mathbb {Z}$

now pick any four solutions you want, by varying m and n
cant put it in the calculator coz it decided that it wants new batteries which i dont have

4. Originally Posted by helmszee
cant put it in the calculator coz it decided that it wants new batteries which i dont have
you know, one of the great things about google is that it can function as a calculator. type in tan(1.7) and it will give you the answer. it does radians by default, if you want degrees you would type, for example, tan(13 degrees) and it gives you the answer. you can also type tan(1.7 radians) to make sure you're getting the right thing

5. Originally Posted by Jhevon
you know, one of the great things about google is that it can function as a calculator. type in tan(1.7) and it will give you the answer. it does radians by default, if you want degrees you would type, for example, tan(13 degrees) and it gives you the answer. you can also type tan(1.7 radians) to make sure you're getting the right thing
Or Windows has a calculator, or Excel can be used, or you can find on online, or you can borrow a friend's calculator, or...

-Dan