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Geometry and Trigonometry / Right triangles and trigonometry Difficulty: Medium

The figure presents right triangle A B C. Side A C is horizontal, with A to the left of C, and side B C is vertical, with B above C. A right angle symbol is indicated at angle C. Side A B is labeled 29. Side A C is labeled 21. Side B C is labeled 20.

In the figure above, what is the value of $tangent A$ ?

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Explanation

Choice C is correct. Angle A is an acute angle in a right triangle, so the value of tan(A) is equivalent to the ratio of the length of the side opposite angle A, 20, to the length of the nonhypotenuse side adjacent to angle A, 21. Therefore, $tangent A, equals 20 over 21$ .

Choice A is incorrect. This is the value of sin(A). Choice B is incorrect. This is the value of cos(A). Choice D is incorrect. This is the value of tan(B).