The Tangent Ratio
In a right triangle, the tangent of one of the acute angles is defined as:
[tex]\tan B=\frac{\text{opposite side}}{adjacent\text{ side}}[/tex]The figure shows a triangle whose angle B has the side of 8 ft as its opposite side, and the side of 15 ft as its adjacent side, thus:
[tex]\begin{gathered} \tan B=\frac{8ft}{15ft} \\ \tan B=\frac{8}{15} \end{gathered}[/tex]It can also be expressed as 8 to 15.
The definition of the tangent of an angle B is:
[tex]\tan B=\frac{\sin B}{\cos B}[/tex]