16Hit1600
Geometry and TrigonometryHardTangent of the smaller acute angle

Geometry and Trigonometry practice question

A right triangle has legs of length 5 and 12. What is the tangent of the smaller acute angle?

  1. A. 5/12Correct
  2. B. 12/5
  3. C. 5/13
  4. D. 12/13

Answer: A. 5/12

The smaller acute angle is opposite the shorter leg, 5, and adjacent to 12: tan = 5/12.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. 12/5
12/5 is the tangent of the larger acute angle.
C. 5/13
5/13 is the sine of the smaller angle.
D. 12/13
12/13 is its cosine.

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