SOLUTION: Three sticks are arranged to form a right triangle. If the lengths of the three sticks are 0.47 m, 0.62 m and 0.78 m, what are the three angles of the triangle?

Algebra ->  Angles -> SOLUTION: Three sticks are arranged to form a right triangle. If the lengths of the three sticks are 0.47 m, 0.62 m and 0.78 m, what are the three angles of the triangle?       Log On


   

Question 493927: Three sticks are arranged to form a right triangle. If the lengths of the three sticks are 0.47 m, 0.62 m and 0.78 m, what are the three angles of the triangle?
Answer by richard1234(7193) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
That does not form a right triangle. However, we can still find the angles using the law of cosines. For example,



where alpha is the angle opposite the .78 m side. Solve for cos(alpha) (you might want a calculator) and take the inverse cosine of both sides. Repeat for the other two sides of the triangle.