Question

How do you find x?
Picture attached vvv

Answer 1

are you familiar with the trig functions sine, cosine and tangent?

Answer 2

only a small bit, they confuse me still a lot

Answer 3

basically, the trig functions can be used to determine a missing side length of a triangle if you know the angle and another side length

Answer 4

how am I able to do that?

Answer 5

So for example, in # 4, we use the trig function tangent


tan(angle) = opposite/adjacent

tan(25) = 7/x

x*tan(25) = 7

x = 7/tan(25)

x = 7/0.4663076581 ... use a calculator to find tan(25)

x = 15.0115484453

x = 15.0 ... Round tot he nearest tenth

So the answer for # 4 is 15.0

Note: it's 15.0 and NOT 15 since the first suggests that you rounded to the nearest tenth and not whole number

Answer 6

The general equations are

sin(angle) = opposite/hypotenuse

cos(angle) = adjacent/hypotenuse

tan(angle) = opposite/adjacent

Answer 7

ohhhhhh that makes a lot more sense, and I use that equation on all other problems?

Answer 8

you use one of the three i posted above, the one you choose depends on which segments of the triangle you are working with

basically, you won't be using that tan equation all the time

Answer 9

ex: if you have a known adjacent side and an unknown hypotenuse (with known angle), then you use the cosine formula

Answer 10

ohhhhhh alright i think I understand now

Answer 11

that's great :)

Answer 12

I'm glad things are making sense