ACT Math : How to find negative tangent
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : How To Find Negative Tangent
What is the tangent of the angle formed between the origin and the point 
You can begin by imagining a little triangle in the second quadrant to find your reference angle. It would look like this:
The tangent of an angle is:
For our data, this is:
Now, since this is in the second quadrant, the value is negative, given the periodic nature of the tangent function.
Example Question #2 : How To Find Negative Tangent
What is the tangent of the angle formed between the origin and the point 
Recall that when you calculate a trigonometric function for an obtuse angle like this, you always use the 
Now, it is easiest to think of this like you are drawing a little triangle in the second quadrant of the Cartesian plane. It would look like:
So, the tangent of an angle is:
This is 
Example Question #3 : How To Find Negative Tangent
What is the tangent of the angle formed between the origin and the point 
Recall that when you calculate a trigonometric function for an obtuse angle like this, you always use the 
Now, it is easiest to think of this like you are drawing a little triangle in the fourth quadrant of the Cartesian plane. It would look like:
So, the tangent of an angle is:
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