Question

why does cos 10/sin 80 = 1?

Answer 1

Because this is a right triangle with hypotenuse equal to 1

Answer 2

cos(10 degrees)=sin(80 degrees)

1 = 1

Answer 3

*I'm off a bit

Answer 4

Note that in a right triangle, the other two angles must equal to 90 degrees. Given this, we know one angle is 10 and the other is 80 and the cos 10 is the same length as the sin 80 in any right angle situation with one angle being 80 and the other 10 degrees.

Answer 5

so which is the opposite and the adjacent

Answer 6

I really wish the draw feature was available because I could show this in a drawing so easily.

Answer 7

it is available

Answer 8

Imagine a right triangle, with a hypotenuse equal to 1. One angle is 10 degrees, the other must be 80, because its a right triangle.

Then take the 1 * cos of the smaller angle: cos 10. This is the x-axis length.

The y-axis length is 1 * sin 10. This is also 1 * cos 80.

But also, the x-axis length of this triangle is 1 * sin 80, based on this (abstract) drawing.

Maybe this will help: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=80%2C10%2C90+degree+triangle

Answer 9

thank you so much, it really helped