Trig Functions and finding the value

[mathmarauder]

the directions and problem are as follows
find the exact value, without decimals and without a calculator

tan pi/2
my answer is 0, -1
as for showing work...
its on the 90 degree line quad 1 makes it positive quad 2 makes it negative
so 0, -1
im almost certain its not that simple...but is that the right answer?

 

[Loren]

What happens when you check your answer using a calculator?

 

[Mrspi]

the directions and problem are as follows
find the exact value, without decimals and without a calculator

tan pi/2
my answer is 0, -1
as for showing work...
its on the 90 degree line quad 1 makes it positive quad 2 makes it negative
so 0, -1
im almost certain its not that simple...but is that the right answer?

Points on the x-axis and/or the y-axis are not considered to be in ANY quadrant.

Any point on the y-axis has coordinates of the form (0, y).

Now...if (x, y) is a point on the terminal side of an angle @ (I'm using @ for theta) in standard position, tan @ = y/x.

What happens if your point is on the y-axis??

 

[mathmarauder]

hmm ok the answer is 0 because its undefined?

 

[Mrspi]

hmm ok the answer is 0 because its undefined?

Um, no.

0 is defined....

if it is undefined, then it is undefined!

 

[mathmarauder]

woohoo good times.
Ok if its on the line of 2 quadrants.
one quadrant is negative for tan and one is positive
then I thought the answer is 0
i guess not. what is the answer exactly?

 

[Mrspi]

woohoo good times.
Ok if its on the line of 2 quadrants.
one quadrant is negative for tan and one is positive
then I thought the answer is 0
i guess not. what is the answer exactly?

tan (pi/2) is UNDEFINED

 

[mathmarauder]

ok thank you. I must have been sleeping the day they said 0 and undefined were different.
thanks again

 

[Deleted member 4993]

\(\displaystyle \tan(\frac{\pi}{2}) \, = \, \text undefined\)