How do you figure out the angles of a triangle knowing the sides?
Acute angles of right triangles can be found based on ratios of the appropriate sides. the ratio of the opposite leg, (the height in your example) to the base is named the tangent, (abreviated tan), of the angle in question. The ratio 1/12 expressed as a decimal is .08333… Once you know the tangent of the angle the simplest way to find the angle is to use any scientific calculator. You will note these canculators have a key for sin (sine) cos (cosine), other ratios and tan. This is the one we need. Since we know the tan and not the angle we will need to fine the inverse tan of .08333. To find the inverse of the tangent you will need to press an inverse button before you press tan. That will vary on different calculators and can be: arc, inv or 2nd. Now put in the decimal .08333. Press enter and you should have your answer in degrees. Your answer is 4.76 in degrees. (.0831 in radians, another ratio.) Some calculators need to be put into degree mode, before you do the problem, if that
