Some basic geo/trig

Nori

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Apr 10, 2019
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I don't really understand how to do this practice problem. I just need help with the steps.
12707
 
Yes, we may write:

[MATH]\sin(y)=\frac{9}{17}[/MATH]
Hence (in degrees):

[MATH]y=\frac{180^{\circ}}{\pi}\arcsin\left(\frac{9}{17}\right)[/MATH]
 
You're given that one angle of the triangle is 90 degrees, so you know it's a right triangle. That's great, because the trig functions play very nicely with right triangles. We love right triangles! In your studies, you may have learned the mnemonic device SOHCAHTOA. You're interested in solving for \(y\). Which of the two given sides is Opposite of the angle \(y\)? And which of the two given sides is the Hypotenuse of the right triangle? What does that make the Sine of \(y\)?

You'll probably want to use a calculator to help you out here, although with some memorization of "critical" angles (e.g. 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, etc.), you can at least generate a good guess as to what the answer might be. Then you only have to use the calculator to confirm that guess was correct.
 
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