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Tangent function

tan(x), tangent function.

tan(x), tangent function.

Tangent definition

In a right triangle ABC the tangent of α, tan(α) is defined as the ratio betwween the side opposite to angle α and the side adjacent to the angle α:

tan α = a / b

Example

a = 3"
b = 4"
tan α = a / b = 3 / 4 = 0.75

Graph of tangent

TBD

Tangent rules

Rule name Rule
Symmetry tan(-θ) = -tan θ
Symmetry tan(90°- θ) = cot θ
tan θ = sin θ / cos θ
tan θ = 1 / cot θ
Double angle tan 2θ = 2 tan θ / (1 - tan
										2 θ) |

| Angles sum | tan(α+β) = (tan α + tan β) / (1 - tan α tan β) | | Angles difference | tan(α-β) = (tan α - tan β) / (1 + tan α tan β) | | Derivative | tan' x = 1 / cos2(x) | | Integral | ∫ tan x dx = - ln |cos x| + C | | Euler's formula | tan x = (eix - e-ix) / i (eix + e-ix) |

Inverse tangent function

The arctangent of x is defined as the inverse tangent function of x when x is real (x∈ℝ).

When the tangent of y is equal to x:

tan y = x

Then the arctangent of x is equal to the inverse tangent function of x, which is equal to y:

arctan x = tan-1 x = y

Example

arctan 1 = tan-1 1 = π/4 rad = 45°

See: Arctan function

Tangent table

| x (rad) | x (°) | tan(x) |

| --- | --- | --- | | -π/2 | -90° | -∞ | | -1.2490 | -71.565° | -3 | | -1.1071 | -63.435° | -2 | | -π/3 | -60° | -√3 | | -π/4 | -45° | -1 | | -π/6 | -30° | -1/√3 | | -0.4636 | -26.565° | -0.5 | | 0 | 0° | 0 | | 0.4636 | 26.565° | 0.5 | | π/6 | 30° | 1/√3 | | π/4 | 45° | 1 | | π/3 | 60° | √3 | | 1.1071 | 63.435° | 2 | | 1.2490 | 71.565° | 3 | | π/2 | 90° | ∞ |