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Right Triangle Ratio Formula:
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The ratio of legs in a right triangle is a fundamental geometric relationship that describes the proportion between the two perpendicular sides (legs) of the triangle. This ratio is dimensionless and is useful in various applications including trigonometry, architecture, and engineering.
The calculator uses the simple ratio formula:
Where:
Explanation: The ratio compares the lengths of the two legs, providing a dimensionless value that represents their proportional relationship.
Details: Calculating the ratio of legs is important for determining angles in trigonometry (tangent function), designing slopes in construction, and solving various geometric problems involving right triangles.
Tips: Enter both leg lengths in the same units (e.g., both in meters or both in feet). The calculator will automatically compute their ratio. Both values must be positive numbers.
Q1: Can I use different units for each leg?
A: No, both legs should be in the same units to get a meaningful ratio. Convert one measurement if necessary before calculation.
Q2: What does the ratio tell me about the triangle?
A: The ratio determines the "steepness" of the triangle and is directly related to the angles (through trigonometric functions).
Q3: What if one leg is zero?
A: In a right triangle, both legs must have positive lengths. A zero length would make it a line segment rather than a triangle.
Q4: How is this different from the hypotenuse ratio?
A: This calculates the ratio between the two perpendicular sides, not involving the hypotenuse. Different ratios (like leg/hypotenuse) would give different trigonometric functions.
Q5: Can this ratio be greater than 1?
A: Yes, the ratio can be any positive number. A ratio > 1 means leg1 is longer than leg2, < 1 means the opposite, and =1 means both legs are equal (isosceles right triangle).