An Angle From a Slope
Part of the Trig Equations and Inverses section of Coddy's Trigonometry journey. Lesson 13 of 56.
A slope is a tangent. A road that rises 3 m for every 50 m along the level has tan(θ) = 3/50, and its angle is arctan(0.06), 3.43° to two places. Signs that say 6% mean this ratio, 6 up per 100 along.
On the board you name the ratio, the board writes the equation, and arctan finds the angle. In a right triangle the angle lies in (0°, 90°), so there is one answer.
Challenge
A wheelchair ramp may rise at most 1 m for every 12 m along the ground. The triangle is on the board. Name the ratio for θ, solve for θ to two decimal places, and press Check.
Try it yourself
Use the figure to find theta
This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Trig Equations and Inverses
1Your First Trig Equations
One Equation, Two AnglesReading Signs on the CircleThe Reference AngleRecap: First Equations4Compositions
Draw the TriangleThe Outer FunctionA Negative InsideWhen Undoing Does Not UndoRecap: Compositions2Inverses and Their Ranges
Why arcsin Gives One AngleNegative Inputs to arcsinThe Range of arccosThe Range of arctanRecap: Inverse Ranges5Equations on a Domain
A Negative CosineTangent EquationsEquations in RadiansTwo Turns, Four AnswersRecap: On a Domain3Evaluating Inverse Trig
Rounded Angles in DegreesRounded Angles in Radiansarctan, RoundedAn Angle From a SlopeRecap: Inverse Values