We can find a and b using inverse trig functions,
[tex]
\cos(a)=\frac{4}{5}\implies a=\arccos\Big(\frac{4}{5}\Big)\approx36.87 \\
\sin(b)=-\frac{5}{13}\implies b=\arcsin\Big(-\frac{5}{13}\Big)\approx-22.62
[/tex]
[tex]\tan(36.87-(-22.62))\approx1.7[/tex]
Hope this helps.