Activity #2_The Basics of Tangent
DIRECTIONS
For this activity, check onto the third box. Check to make sure that values are for the opposite and adjacent. Remember to find the Tangent of an angle, we measure the length of the opposite leg relative to the length of the adjacent leg.
Activity #1
Adjust the length of the adjacent leg so that it is 4 units long. Also adjust the angle slider (upper left hand corner) so that it is 0 degrees. Explain what is happening as you increase the angle from 0 degrees out to 90 degrees. May want to sketch the various different triangles that are created. Take special note of the ratio as a decimal (upper right hand corner) as angle increases.
Activity #2
Choose any angle category below and create 4 different combinations of legs (opposite and adjacent) that always yield your given angle (in degrees). To do this, you will need to adjust the white vertices -- making the triangle bigger or smaller. Use the slider in the upper left corner to adjust the angle.
Angle Categories:
#1 0 to 29 degrees
#2 30 degrees
#3 31 to 44 degrees
#4 45 degrees
#5 46 to 59 degrees
#6 60 degrees
#7 61 to 90 degrees