Radians are a way of measuring angles based on the radius of a circle. Unlike degrees, which divide a circle into 360 parts, radians allocate a circle into about 6.28 parts (or 2π). One radian is the angle created when the arc length of a circle is equal to its radius. This is more natural for many types of mathematical analysis since they connect directly with the properties of circles.
Converting between radians and degrees can be helpful:
- 1 radian ≈ 57.2958 degrees
- π radians = 180 degrees
For trigonometric calculations, using radians can simplify many mathematical operations. In our exercise, we're finding the tangent of 0.9 radians, which is an angle measurement. Just ensure the calculator is set to radian mode to get the correct result.
By understanding radians, you're better equipped to deal with a wide range of mathematical problems and calculations.