A right triangle has an angle that measures 34, and the adjacent side measures 17. What is the length of the hypotenuse to the nearest tenth?

Question

anonymous · Answer

I think the equasion should be 17cos34 because adjacent and hypotenuse is cos but I get 14.0936..... and that isn't one of my choices.

campbell_st · Answer

draw a picture

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the question involves trigonometry

anonymous · Answer

My choices:
    20.5
    25.2
    30.4
    34

campbell_st · Answer

ok... slight problem with your solution. 

the hypotenuse is the longest side in the triangle. So the and your answer is shorter than the adjacent side.. 

so the ratio should be 

$$\cos(34) = \frac{17}{h}$$

is that ok...?

campbell_st · Answer

all you do is swap the  postions of  cos(34) and h

campbell_st · Answer

then calculate

$$h = \frac{17}{\cos(34)}$$

anonymous · Answer

Oh, okay. So it would be 20.5.

anonymous · Answer

Thank you. :)