Question

Write the following trigonometric ratio using an acute angle: tan 162 degrees

Answer 1

-tan(18°) or tan(-18°)

Explanation:

The angle given is in the 3rd quadrant, so the tangent is negative. The reference angle is ...

180° -162° = 18°

Tangent is an odd function, so ...

tan(-x) = -tan(x)

This means we can write the required ratio two ways:

• tan(-18°)
• -tan(18°)