Difficulty putting trig into calculator

[Georgie Porgie]

Learning Trig, haven’t studied in over 35 years, doing well but am struggling putting equation into scientific calculator how do I enter tan-1(5/4) answer is 51.34 degrees? understand the question just don't know which keys on the scientific calculator in what order? Thanks in advance for help.

 

[stapel]

Unfortunately, since we can't see your calculator nor read its manual, it is not possible for us to know which keys to press, in what order. Sorry.

 

[The Highlander]

Learning Trig, haven’t studied in over 35 years, doing well but am struggling putting equation into scientific calculator how do I enter tan-1(5/4) answer is 51.34 degrees? understand the question just don't know which keys on the scientific calculator in what order? Thanks in advance for help.

Hi,

The \(\displaystyle tan^{-1}\) function usually "resides" above the \(\displaystyle tan\) function (button) itself.

Have a look to see if you can see \(\displaystyle tan^{-1}\) written above the \(\displaystyle tan\) button on your calculator. If it's there then it is usually accessed by first pressing a 'Fn' or '2ndFn' button (a bit like pressing the Shift key on a keyboard to get the characters above the numbers on the top row).

If that doesn't solve your problem then I doubt if anyone can help unless you were prepared to post a picture of your calculator which might then allow us to offer further advice.

Regards.

 

[Steven G]

...you also need to have your calculator in the degree mode.

 

[JeffM]

Frequently there is a button that says 2nd or alt. If so, that button will frequently give you the inverse trig functions. Of course, without knowing anything about your calculator, this advice may be pure nonsense.

And pay close attention to Steven’s point about degrees versus radians.