The reference angle is angle S = 41 degrees. The side opposite that (RT) is unknown and what we want to find. The adjacent side to the reference angle is TS which is 8 units long.
RT = x
TS = 8
The ratio of the opposite and adjacent side is equal to the tangent of the reference angle, so,
tan(angle) = opposite/adjacent
tan(41) = x/8
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We are given the value of tan(41) to be approximately 0.869, which means we will replace "tan(41)" with this decimal value and then isolate x by multiplying both sides by 8. This happens in the section below.
