SOLUTION: I have a right triangle with one known angle in addition to the right angle and the length of the side (b) between these two angles. The length of side (b) is five. How do I find t

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: I have a right triangle with one known angle in addition to the right angle and the length of the side (b) between these two angles. The length of side (b) is five. How do I find t      Log On


   

Question 33655: I have a right triangle with one known angle in addition to the right angle and the length of the side (b) between these two angles. The length of side (b) is five. How do I find the length of side (a)? Side (c) is also unknown.
Answer by venugopalramana(3286) About Me  (Show Source):
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I have a right triangle with one known angle in addition to the right angle and the length of the side (b) between these two angles. The length of side (b) is five. How do I find the length of side (a)? Side (c) is also unknown.
LET THE TRIANGLE BE ABC
b=AC=5
ANGLE BAC=90
ANGLE ACB IS KNOWN= C SAY
YOU REFER TABLES OR A CALCULATOR TO FIND COS(C) AND TAN(C) TO DETERMINE SIDES BC=a AND c=AB USING THE FOLLOWING EQUATIONS
COS(C)=AC/BC=5/a....OR.......a=5/COS(C)...KNOWING COS(C)FROM CALCULATOR / TABLE YOU CAN FIND a...IF ANGLE C=60 SAY....THEN COS(C)=COS(60)=0.5....a=5/0.5=10
TAN(C)=AB/AC=c/5....OR.......c=5*TAN(C)...KNOWING TAN(C)FROM CALCULATOR / TABLE YOU CAN FIND c...IF ANGLE C=60 SAY....THEN TAN(C)=TAN(60)=SQRT(3)=1.732....c=5*1.732=8.66