# Trig, find tan A and tan B (no numbers given)

1. Feb 25, 2013

### uperkurk

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Find tan A, tan B

I have a right angle triangle. Length a = t, length b = k, hypotenuse = p.

3. The attempt at a solution

Usually I would just use the normal rule of $$\tan a =\frac{opp}{adj}$$ but how can I get an answer here? I can't just say $$\tan a =\frac{t}{k}$$ because this makes no sense.

The only thing I can think of is say the answer is 1. Or tan a = 45, tan b = 45.

2. Feb 25, 2013

### Vorde

If this is really all you were given, then that is all you can do. The answer cannot possibly be 1 because there is nothing in the problem barring you from making t=2 and k=1, making tan A = 2 (indeed, you could fix it so tan A = any number you want).

3. Feb 25, 2013

### uperkurk

Question 6 is the one relating to my original question.

4. Feb 25, 2013

### Vorde

Seems to me like all you can do it get the quotients you gave in the first post :)

5. Feb 25, 2013

### Staff: Mentor

I think your teacher was trying to get you to show that

tanA = 1/tanB

tanA = t/k

tanB = k/t

6. Feb 28, 2013

This.