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Trigonometry 18 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

why tan^{-1} (-sqrt{3}) = -60 degree?

OpenStudy (goformit100):

Given equation is wrong.... -1 can't be in the power

OpenStudy (campbell_st):

@goformit100 its arctan..

OpenStudy (goformit100):

ok.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

i know it = 60, but really dont know why

OpenStudy (anonymous):

is your concern specifically on the sign. I.e Why -60 and not +60? or you just don't know why it's -60 as it is?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

is what I did in the pic right?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

yes, but it's like circular reasoning. You had to know the angle is -60 first before you can do the calculation.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

the questions is how did you know it's negative -60 at the first place? By your argument, I can do, tan(120) = -sqrt(3), so why not arctan(-sqrt(3)) = 120?

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