If cos θ = 5/13, what is the value of tan \(\theta\) for 0 < θ < 90° ?

If cos θ = 5/13, what is the value of tan \(\theta\) for 0 < θ < 90° ?

Answer Details

We can use the following trigonometric identity: \[\tan \theta = \frac{\sin \theta}{\cos \theta}\] We are given that $\cos \theta = 5/13$. To find $\sin \theta$, we can use the Pythagorean identity: \[\sin^2 \theta + \cos^2 \theta = 1\] Substituting $\cos \theta = 5/13$, we get: \[\sin^2 \theta + \left(\frac{5}{13}\right)^2 = 1\] Simplifying, we get: \[\sin^2 \theta = 1 - \frac{25}{169} = \frac{144}{169}\] Taking the square root of both sides, we get: \[\sin \theta = \frac{12}{13}\] Substituting into the formula for $\tan \theta$, we get: \[\tan \theta = \frac{\sin \theta}{\cos \theta} = \frac{\frac{12}{13}}{\frac{5}{13}} = \boxed{\frac{12}{5}}\]