Question

for what value of x is tanx underfined?
a. 0
b. pi/8
c. pi/2
d. pi/4
e. pi

Answer 1

The tangent of an angle is also the ratio of the sin/cos
If you consider the unit circle, where the hypotenuse of any triangle is 1, then each point on the circle is (x,y) = (cos(angle), sin(angle))

so you can call the tangent in that case , tan(angle) = y / x if the x coord is zero, the tangent at that angle is not defined, which occures at points (0,1) and (0,-1) on the circle,

Answer 2

those two points correspond to half pi and 3 halvs pi

Answer 3

basically, you can't find the tangent of a vertical angle

Answer 4

because the sin of that angle goes to zero as you get closer to the undefined angles

Answer 5

so its just zero? @DanJS

Answer 6

The tangent is the ratio of the side oposite the angle over the side adjacent to the angle

Answer 7

For the angle, if the adjacent side is zero, then you have an undefined fraction, something/zero

Answer 8

When is the adjacent side zero?? look at the unit circle here....