should probably know that it’s about 1.73. The answer is (D).
DON’T USE YOUR CALCULATOR TOO EARLY
When you do use your calculator, it will usually be at a later stage in solving a problem. Never start
punching calculator keys before you’ve given the problem a little thought. Know what you’re doing,
and where you’re going, before you start calculating.
DON’T GET PUNCHY
Don’t start punching calculator keys until you’ve given the problem some thought.Here’s a question that really requires a calculator, but not until late in the problem solving:
What you have here is essentially a quadratic equation in which the unknown is tan x. For
simplicity’s sake, substitute y for tan x :
Now solve for y :
If 0° < x < 90°, and tan^2 x − tan x = 6, which of the following could be the value of x in degrees
(rounded to the nearest degree)?