Question

In a right triangle the cosine of an acute angle is 1/2 and the hypotenuse measures 7 inches. What is the length of the shortest side of the triangle?

Answer 1

cosine is opposite over hypotenuse

so opposite over hypotenuse is 1/2 however it says that hypotenuse should be 7..so you put it in terms of 7

1/2 = x/7

x = 3.5

the shortest side would be \[\sqrt{7^2 - (3.5)^2}\] got it?

Answer 2

hmm wait...i tried it and it turns out that the shortest side will be 3.5 because \(\sqrt{7^2 - (3.5)^2} = 6.06\)

Answer 3

which one right