Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 43m
- 1. Measuring Angles39m
- 2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
- 3. Unit Circle1h 19m
- 4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
- 5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
- 6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
- 7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
- 8. Vectors2h 25m
- 9. Polar Equations2h 5m
- 10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
- 11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m
2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles
Solving Right Triangles
6:24 minutes
Problem 7
Textbook Question
Textbook QuestionIn Exercises 1–12, solve the right triangle shown in the figure. Round lengths to two decimal places and express angles to the nearest tenth of a degree. a = 30.4, c = 50.2
Verified Solution
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above
Video duration:
6mPlay a video:
Was this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Right Triangle Properties
A right triangle has one angle measuring 90 degrees, and the sides are categorized as the opposite, adjacent, and hypotenuse. The hypotenuse is the longest side, opposite the right angle, while the other two sides are perpendicular to each other. Understanding these properties is essential for applying trigonometric functions to solve for unknown lengths and angles.
Recommended video:
5:35
30-60-90 Triangles
Trigonometric Ratios
Trigonometric ratios relate the angles of a triangle to the lengths of its sides. The primary ratios are sine (sin), cosine (cos), and tangent (tan), defined as sin(θ) = opposite/hypotenuse, cos(θ) = adjacent/hypotenuse, and tan(θ) = opposite/adjacent. These ratios are fundamental for solving right triangles, allowing us to find unknown angles and side lengths.
Recommended video:
6:04
Introduction to Trigonometric Functions
Pythagorean Theorem
The Pythagorean Theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (c) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides (a and b). This can be expressed as a² + b² = c². This theorem is crucial for finding the lengths of sides when two sides are known, and it complements the use of trigonometric ratios in solving right triangles.
Recommended video:
5:19
Solving Right Triangles with the Pythagorean Theorem
Watch next
Master Finding Missing Side Lengths with a bite sized video explanation from Nick Kaneko
Start learningRelated Videos
Related Practice