In this activity students explore the tangent ratio. Students construct a right triangle using perpendicular lines, and a line that forms the hypotenuse of the triangle. When students construct the hypotenuse line it is very important that the second point that forms the line is not on the perpendicular line. When done correctly, moving point C will produce similar triangles.
Before the Activity
Students should have access to either the TI-83 or TI-84 family of calculators.
During the Activity
Students explore the tangent ratio. Students construct a right triangle using perpendicular lines, and a line that forms the hypotenuse of the triangle.
After the Activity
Review student answers:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
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