Question

Explain the difference between using the tangent ratio to solve for a missing angle in a right triangle versus using the cotangent ratio

Answer 1

tan(angle) = opposite/adjacent

cot(angle) = 1/[tan(angle)] = adjacent/opposite

cotangent is simply the reciprocal of tangent. So you can use either one. However, tangent is easier to use because most calculators will have a "tan" button for the "tangent" function. I don't know of any calculators that have a "cot" button. To get "cot", you have to do 1/tan which is one more step.