1. EXAMPLE 2 Find a leg length ALGEBRA Find the value of x. SOLUTION Use the tangent of an acute angle to find a leg length. tan 32 o = opp. adj. Write ratio for tangent of 32 o. tan 32 o 11 = x Substitute. x tan 32 o = 11 Multiply each side by x. x = 11 tan 32 o Divide each side by tan 32 o x 11 0.6249 Use a calculator to find tan 32 o x 17.6 Simplify

2. EXAMPLE 3 Estimate height using tangent LAMPPOST Find the height h of the lamppost to the nearest inch. tan 70 o = opp. adj. Write ratio for tangent of 70 o. tan 70 o h = 40 Substitute. 40 tan 70 o = h Multiply each side by 40. 109.9 h Use a calculator to simplify. ANSWER The lamppost is about 110 inches tall.

3. EXAMPLE 4 Use a special right triangle to find a tangent Use a special right triangle to find the tangent of a 60 o angle. STEP 1 Because all 30 o -60 o -90 o triangles are similar, you can simplify your calculations by choosing 1 as the length of the shorter leg. Use the 30 o -60 o -90 o Triangle Theorem to find the length of the longer leg.

4. EXAMPLE 4 Use a special right triangle to find a tangent longer leg = shorter leg 3 30 o - 60 o - 90 o Triangle Theorem x = 1 3 Substitute. x = 3 Simplify.

5. EXAMPLE 4 Use a special right triangle to find a tangent STEP 2 tan 60 o = opp. adj. Write ratio for tangent of 60 o. tan 60 o = 3 1 Substitute. tan 60 o = 3 Simplify. ANSWER The tangent of any 60 o angle is 3 1.7321 Find tan 60 o

6. GUIDED PRACTICE for Examples 2, 3, and 4 Find the value of x. Round to the nearest tenth. ANSWER 12.2 ANSWER 19.3 ANSWER shorter leg = 5, longer leg =, 35 tan 60 = 5 53 = 3 What If? In Example 4, suppose the side length of the shorter leg is 5 instead of 1. Show that the tangent of 60° is still equal to. 5. 3