How does the length of the tangent in this picture relate to $\sin(x)/\cos(x)$

geometrytrigonometry

enter image description here

I understand the justificaton behind the length of $\sin(\theta)$ and $\cos(\theta)$. But I don't understand why AE is the length of $\tan(\theta)$, I understand that it satisfies the pythagorean identities but how exactly is that length related to $\frac{\sin(x)}{\cos(x)}$? I also don't understand the lengths of the other trigonometric functions $\sec(\theta)$, $\csc(\theta)$ and $\cot(\theta)$.

Best Answer

Right-angled triangles with one angle equal to $\theta$ include $\triangle OAE,\,FAO$, each with $\theta$ (the right-angle) at the vertex listed first (second). Now use similarity to $\triangle OCA$.

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