What is [tex] \tan 30^{\circ} [/tex]?

A. 1

B. [tex] \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} [/tex]

C. [tex] \sqrt{3} [/tex]

D. [tex] \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} [/tex]

E. [tex] \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}} [/tex]

F. [tex] \sqrt{2} [/tex]



Answer :

To determine the value of [tex]\(\tan 30^\circ\)[/tex], we can begin by recalling that the tangent of an angle in a right triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the adjacent side.

For a 30-degree angle, we often use the properties of a special right triangle, the 30-60-90 triangle. The sides of such a triangle are in the ratio 1 : [tex]\(\sqrt{3}\)[/tex] : 2. Specifically:
- The side opposite the 30-degree angle is [tex]\(1\)[/tex].
- The side opposite the 60-degree angle is [tex]\(\sqrt{3}\)[/tex].
- The hypotenuse is [tex]\(2\)[/tex].

Given this information, the formula for the tangent of a 30-degree angle is:
[tex]\[ \tan 30^\circ = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} \][/tex]

To select the proper answer from the provided options, we look for the choice that matches our calculated value. The possible answers provided are:
A. 1
B. [tex]\(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\)[/tex]
C. [tex]\(\sqrt{3}\)[/tex]
D. [tex]\(\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\)[/tex]
E. [tex]\(\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}\)[/tex]
F. [tex]\(\sqrt{2}\)[/tex]

After examining these options, we see that:
- Option D is [tex]\(\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\)[/tex], which matches our calculated value.

Therefore, the correct answer is:
[tex]\[ \boxed{D} \][/tex]