How would you know when to use sine, cosine, tangent?

Question

gabebae · Answer

Gah I give up

alexandervonhumboldt2 · Answer

Sines, cosines and  tangents can be used to find angles and sides of triangles. 
Sine=Opposite/hypotenuse
Cosine=Adjacent/hypotenuse
Tangent=Opposite/adjacent.

gabebae · Answer

What'st he difference though?
For me they just give me a triangle and ask you to solve for x

gabebae · Answer

@AlexandervonHumboldt2

madmerc · Answer

The cosine (often abbreviated "cos") is the ratio of the length of the side adjacent to the angle to the length of the hypotenuse. And the tangent (often abbreviated "tan") is the ratio of the length of the side opposite the angle to the length of the side adjacent.

madmerc · Answer

http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/676242/when-to-use-sine-vs-cosine-vs-tangent this might help you

gabebae · Answer

So it depends on the sides they give you and which one you need to solve?

gabebae · Answer

@madmerc

madmerc · Answer

Yes exactly. Depending on which side you are missing and which sides they tell you the lengths of, you will use sine, cosine, or tangent