Click and drag point A or point B to change the triangle. (Angle at point C is always a right 90° angle so C depends on A and B).[br]Find the value of tan(α) using your calculator. Use either [br][list][br][*]the tangent key and the size of the angle α or [br][*]just divide the sides to find the value of the fraction [math]\frac{a}{b}[/math].[br][/list][br](Both ways of calculating should give you the same value.)
[list=1][br][*]Can you make an isosceles triangle? What is the size of α? What is the value of tan(α)? [br][*]Can you make an equilateral triangle?[br][*]Can you make a 3, 4, 5 triangle with b=3, a=4 and c=5? What is the size of α? What is the value of tan(α)?[br][*]Can you make a 4, 3, 5 triangle with b=4, a=3 and c=5? What is the size of α? What is the value of tan(α)? [br][*]Can you make a triangle with α = 35°? What is the value of tan(35°). Write down the lengths of the sides a and c. Can you make a different triangle α=35°?[br][/list]