Question

Dividing the X-axis component and the Y-axis component of the of the vector making an angle with Y-axis α will give us.

(a) Cot α

(b) Tan α

(c) Sec α

(d) 1

The question was posed to me at a job interview.

Query is from Addition of a System of Coplanar Forces topic in division Force Vectors of Engineering Mechanics

Answer 1

Right answer is (b) Tan α

For explanation: As the X-axis component of the vector becomes cos(90- α) and the Y-axis component becomes sin(90- α).Thus the division of both will give us Tan α.