GCSE Maths Practice: trigonometry

Question 2 of 2

This question checks understanding of tangent and which sides it involves.

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\( \begin{array}{l}\text{Which statements are true about } \tan \theta\text{?}\end{array} \)

Select all correct options:

\( \tan \theta = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}} \) \( \tan \theta = \frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypotenuse}} \) \( \tan \theta \text{ involves opposite side} \)

Remember TOA: Tangent = Opposite / Adjacent. Ignore hypotenuse.

Tangent only involves the opposite and adjacent sides of a right-angled triangle. It is calculated as \(\tan \theta = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}\). This is different from sine or cosine, which involve the hypotenuse. Understanding which sides each trigonometric function uses is key for solving triangle problems accurately. Label the sides before applying formulas to avoid confusion. Practice multiple examples to reinforce this concept.