Anybody up for a challenge?

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Tom
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Joined: 13 Jan 2006, 00:24
Location: Bicester

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Its not so difficult.
tan-theta is equal to opposite side (side opposite the angle theta) divided by the adjecent side (angle next to the angle theta) of the triangle (the 2 that aren't the hypotamuse).

therefore tan theta is nothing more than 3/4.

If you were asked to find the angle theta it would be a simple equation, inverse tan of 3/4=inverse tan 0.75=36.87degrees, my original answer when I hadn't read the question. Its almost a trick question, students have spent years being asked to find theta but this question specifically tells them to stop early, before they reach my second paragraph. This is bound to throw people who work out theta when they're only asked for tan theta.

sin and cos have absolubtly nothing to do with this particular equation.

sin could be used to work out theta because inverse sin 3/5=inverse sin 0.6=36.87degrees=theta. cos could also be used to find theta because inverse cos 4/5=inverse cos 0.8=36.87degrees=theta.

But the question doesn't ask for theta, it asks for tan theta, therefore sin and cos are useless!
Murphy's 9th Law of Technology:
Tell a man there are 300 million stars in the universe and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he'll have to touch to be sure.

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wazojugs
1
Joined: 31 Mar 2006, 18:53
Location: UK

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thats the beauty of math there more than one way to get the answer

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Ciro Pabón
106
Joined: 11 May 2005, 00:31

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There is no need to scream, dear Tom. :lol: Math is just a tool. Those guys at BBC are of the "tragic kind", if you ask me: as we could say here, chinese can be aces at math, but they are terrible dancers. We shall conquer all the nice girls, beat them racing at Shangai track AND solve their puny problems. Go, Juan Pablo! 8)

Let me give you some sense of humour, as usual...

Dedicated to some stubborn and arctan calculator extraordinaire members I shall not name... (NO offense intended, wazo, Tom! ;) )
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A hard problem and a desperate solution
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Not so "serious expansion or "Very funny, Peter"
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And a quiz for "tangent lovers"!

This shall give some pondering to some members I shall not name :lol:

NOTE: asking help from joseff is NOT allowed! ;) Clue: calculate tangents for the green and red triangles.
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Ciro

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f1.redbaron
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Joined: 31 Jul 2005, 23:29

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ha, ha...Loved it, Ciro.

Especially the one with the Hangman

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Tom
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Joined: 13 Jan 2006, 00:24
Location: Bicester

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Very good Ciro, sorry to use bold type earlier, I just wanted to make sure you understood, comes from having a maths teacher as, how shall I put it? unstable as mine.
The reason your triangles won't fit together is because in triangle 1 the line AB is not straight, therefore its not a triangle ATALL!!! [*Bangs fist on the table in true Mr Girvan style*]
Anyone who wanted to work it out themselves look away a few seconds ago.
Murphy's 9th Law of Technology:
Tell a man there are 300 million stars in the universe and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he'll have to touch to be sure.