tan 12 degree 10/x

Question

tan 12 degree 10/x

mathmale · Answer

ram:  what are you asking?  Pretty please, include the instructions that came with the problem.

anonymous · Answer

That is an incomplete thought/comment. Care to elaborate on what you need?

mathmale · Answer

See, ram, great minds think alike!  ;)

anonymous · Answer

sorry friend this ask the question : 
Find the value of x. Round your answer to the nearest tenth.

raden · Answer

|dw:1389478095046:dw|

mathmale · Answer

You're saying:$$\tan(12)=\frac{ 10 }{ x }....so....x=\frac{ 10 }{ \tan 12 }, \angle 12 \in degrees.$$How would you find tan 12, if 12 represents the angle in degrees?

anonymous · Answer

so can i do the cross multiply?

anonymous · Answer

Actually that is the solution to x, if you need a decimal answer then you muse evaluate 
$$10/\tan(12) $$

anonymous · Answer

"must evaluate" i.e. use a calculator.

anonymous · Answer

thank you so much euman.

anonymous · Answer

but it give me..    -15.72

anonymous · Answer

10/tan(12)=47.04630109. 
I'm not sure what you are entering into your calculator.
find tan(12) then divide 10 by that answer

anonymous · Answer

i enter 10 divide by tan(12).. but i have no idea why i have diffrient answer.

anonymous · Answer

try putting parenthesis around the whole denominator?

anonymous · Answer

or is your calculator in radians mode? it needs to be in degree mode

anonymous · Answer

oh yeah.. it was in radians mode.. that's why.. but thank you alot

anonymous · Answer

You bet, that "wrong " calculator is the source of plenty a student's frustration

anonymous · Answer

yep :)

anonymous · Answer

I meant wrong mode. I can't tell you how mant times I've done it.