SOLUTION: If the lengths of an isosceles triangle are 9.4 and 16, find the angles to the nearest degree.

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: If the lengths of an isosceles triangle are 9.4 and 16, find the angles to the nearest degree.       Log On


   



Question 975061: If the lengths of an isosceles triangle are 9.4 and 16, find the angles to the nearest degree.

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


There is no way to tell which of these triangles that is desired.
So we do both.

Either way, the first thing to do is draw the altitude,(in green)
which splits the base into two segments each half as long as the 
original base, 9.4/2 = 4.7 on the left and 16/2 = 8 on the right.
The green altitude divides the isosceles triangles into two
congruent right triangles, so that we can use trig ratios.  



In each we know the ADJACENT SIDE and the HYPOTENUSE, so we
use COSINE.

In the figure on the left, we have

cos%28theta%29%22%22=%22%22ADJACENT%2F%28HYPOTENUSE%29%22%22=%22%224.7%2F16

We use our calculator and find theta%22%22=%22%22%2272.91740297%B0%22

Since all three angles of a triangle = 180°, we find the vertex angle:

180°-2(72.91740297°) = 34.16519407°

So the angles in the triangle on the left are:

Base angles = 72.91740297° each, vertex angle = 34.16519407°

Rounded to the nearest degree, 73°, 73°, 34°

-------------------------------------------

In the figure on the right, we have

cos%28theta%29%22%22=%22%22ADJACENT%2F%28HYPOTENUSE%29%22%22=%22%228%2F9.4

We use our calculator and find theta%22%22=%22%22%2231.67243343%B0%22

Since all three angles of a triangle = 180°, we find the vertex angle:

180°-2(31.67243343°) = 116.6551331°

So the angles in the triangle on the right are:

Base angles = 31.67243343° each, vertex angle = 116.6551331°

Rounded to the nearest degree, 32°, 32°, 117°

[Notice that adding the rounded angles gives 181° not 180°, demonstrating
that rounding always introduces error.  It's a matter of sacrificing
accuracy for convenience.]

Edwin