Basic Trigonometric Ratios {ACT}

According to the measurements in the figure given at the right,
which of the following expressions gives the distance, in miles,
from the boat to the dock?
A.)  30 tan 52°
B.)  30 cos 52°
C.)  30 sin 52°
D.)    30
      cos 52°
E.)    30
      sin 52°

---

Trigonometric Ratios

opposite side
----------------- = sin
 hypotenuse

adjacent side
----------------- = cos
 hypotenuse

opposite side
----------------- = tan
adjacent side




- Algebra House

In the triangle, the distance from the boat to the dock is
opposite the 52° angle and 30 miles is adjacent to the 52° angle.

tan of 52° will be used in this situation

d = distance from boat to dock

   d
------- = tan 52°   {opposite over adjacent equals tan 52°}
  30

d = 30(tan 52°)   {multiplied each side by 30}

A.)  30(tan 52°)