Question

So I don't really understand triginomerty at all. Any help? yes? no? thanks

Answer 1

Do you have a problem that you need help with? That may be a way to start to understand.

Answer 2

I have questions on a previous test that I could use some help with. I am trying to figure out how to take a screenshot of it though

Answer 3

ok

Answer 4

A lamppost casts a shadow 44 feet long. The angle measure of the shadow is 33°.

How tall is the lamppost, rounded to the nearest tenth of a foot? Type the numeric answer only in the box below.

Answer 5

Ok. Since you say you don't understand trig at all, I'll try to explain it step by step and slowly. Just follow what I am doing even if it turns out to be a bit too slow of an explanation.

Answer 6

Alright :)

Answer 7

A right triangle is a triangle in which one angle is a right angle (90 degrees).
In a right triangle, there are 3 sides like in any other triangle.

Answer 8

The sides of a right triangle have names that are used in right triangles but not usually in other triangles.
The side opposite the right angle is the hypotenuse. It is the longest side of a right triangle.

Answer 9

The two sides that form the right angle are called the legs.
Each leg is shorter than the hypotenuse, since the hypotenuse is the longest side of a right triangle.

Answer 10

Opposite and adjacent right?

Answer 11

Right. Let me do one example to explain it, then we'll go to your problem.

Answer 12

alright, awesome!

Answer 13

Look at the figure.
For this triangle, the hypotenuse is always AB with length c, since AB is the side opposite the right angle.

Answer 14

For this triangle, the two legs are AC (which has length b) and BC (which has length a).

Answer 15

Now look at one specific angle. Let's look at angle A.
For angle A, each leg has a special name. The special name allows us to distinguish one leg from the other leg.

Answer 16

For angle A, the adjacent leg (adjacent = near) is AC.
For angle A, the opposite leg (opposite = across) is BC.
The hypotenuse is always AB, no matter which angle we are looking at.

Answer 17

The sine, cosine and tangent of an angle, are ratios of lengths of sides of a right triangle.

Answer 18

A method used to memorize this is
SOH CAH TOA which means:
Sin = Opp/Hyp
Cos = Adj/Hyp
Tan = Opp/Adj

Answer 19

Now let's look at your problem.

Answer 20

Sounds like a plan

Answer 21

You have a given angle of 33 degrees.
You also have a known side of length 44.
You are looking for the side labeled x.

Answer 22

For the given angle at the left, which leg is the one that is 44 long?

Answer 23

In other words, for the 33 deg angle, is the 44 side the adjacent or the opposite leg?

Answer 24

The adjacent

Answer 25

right

Answer 26

Then the x side must be the opposite leg, since it isn't the hypotenuse, and there is only onle leg left.

Answer 27

We have an angle, info on the adjacent leg, and unknown opposite leg.
Which trig function (sin, cos, or tan) relates the opposite leg and the adjacent leg?

Answer 28

Tan?

Answer 29

Exactly, since from TOA you know tan = opp/adj

Answer 30

All you need to do is write an equation:
tan 33 = opp/adj, but we have info on the opp and the adj:
tan 33 = x/44

Answer 31

Now you just need to solve for x.

Answer 32

So Tan 33 would = .65 (rounded) and .65= x/44 ?