Make a right triangle and label the sides. The side opposite the angle is labelled opposite side (y), the one adjacent
is the adjacent side (x) and the last is the hypotenuse (c).

• The tangent of θ = y/x   In the quadrant 1 the x and y values are both positive the tangent of θ is positive.


• The tangent of θ = y/x   In quadrant 2 the x value is negative and the y values is positive.
  Since we are dividing a + number by a - number the tangent of θ is negative.


• The tangent of θ = y/x   In quadrant 4 the y value is negative and the x values is positive.
  Since we are dividing a - number by a + number the tangent of θ is negative.

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