SOLUTION: i am given that adjacent = 50, and angle 86, do i use cos, sin, or tan? and please help me solve i am very confused, been trying to work this out for hours :(

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: i am given that adjacent = 50, and angle 86, do i use cos, sin, or tan? and please help me solve i am very confused, been trying to work this out for hours :(      Log On


   

Question 1068272: i am given that adjacent = 50, and angle 86, do i use cos, sin, or tan? and please help me solve i am very confused, been trying to work this out for hours :(
Answer by Theo(13342) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
it depends on what you're trying to solve for.

is it the hypotenuse or is it the opposite side?

if you are given a right triangle, then you have a 90 degree angle and two other angles that are acute.

you can find the sine, cosine, or tangent of any of those other two acute angles by using trigonometry.

here's a reference that might help.

https://www.mathsisfun.com/sine-cosine-tangent.html

if you can be more specific as to what you're trying to solve for, i might be able to help you.

is 50 the length of the adjacent side?
is 86 the angle that has 50 as the adjacent side?
which other side of the triangle are you trying to solve for?
is the triangle a right triangle or some other type of triangle?