Question triang

4.2 Right Triangles & Trigonometry - Trig ratios (sin, cos, tan) in right triangles
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Triangle A B C is similar to triangle D E F , where angle A corresponds to angle D and angle C corresponds to angle F .  Angles C and F are right angles. If tan A = 50 7 , what is the value of  tan E ?

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Triangle A B C is similar to triangle D E F , where angle A corresponds

Hard-difficulty · SAT Math · Right Triangles & Trigonometry — Trig ratios (sin, cos, tan) in right triangles. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 7 50 . It's given that triangle A B C is similar to triangle D E F , where angle A corresponds to angle D and angle C corresponds to angle F . In similar triangles, the tangents of corresponding angles are equal. Since angle A and angle D are corresponding angles, if tanA=507, then tanD=507. It's also given that angles C and F are right angles. It follows that triangle D E F is a right triangle with acute angles D and E . The tangent of one acute angle in a right triangle is the inverse of the tangent of the other acute angle in the triangle. Therefore, tanE=1tanD. Substituting 50 7 for tanD in this equation yields tanE=1507, or tanE=750. Thus, if tanA=507, the value of tanE is 7 50 . Note that 7/50 and .14 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.