When using trigonometry to find a length in a right triangle, I used tangent because I had one angle given (27 degrees) and the side opposite it is marked x and the side adjacent marked 10. I set up the equation tan 27=x/10. The tangent of 27 was 51, so the equation became 51=x/10. This means that I should multiply 51 by ten, but the answer should be 5.1 not 510. Please help!

Question

anonymous · Answer

the answer should be 
$$10\times \tan(27)$$  whatever that that is

anonymous · Answer

i get 5.09...\] make sure your calculator is in "degree" mode

anonymous · Answer

thanks my calculator was in the wrong mode

anonymous · Answer

value of tan 27 is 0.5095 or 0.51 and not 51 !!!! u hv taken the wrong value and hence getting wrong answer......
so
                x
0.51 = ----
               10

0.51 * 10 = x
5.1 = x