Question

How would I solve this for x?

Answer 1

Sine, right?

Answer 2

\[\sin 37^{o}=\frac{18}{x}\]

Answer 3

So do I multiply sin(37) by 18? Or 1/18?

Answer 4

Hello?

Answer 5

\[\sin 37^\circ = \frac{18}x\]You want \(x\) all alone on one side, with everything else on the other. This is no different than solving \[a = \frac{b}{c}\]for \(c\). How would you do that?

Answer 6

So I do multiply by 18?

Answer 7

x=30

Answer 8

No.

\[a=\frac{b}{c}\]Multiply both sides by \(c\)\[ac = c*\frac{b}{c}\]\[ac = b\]Divide both sides by \(a\)
\[\frac{ac}{a} = \frac{b}{a}\]\[c = \frac{b}{a}\]

Answer 9

When I do that, I get .49

Answer 10

You can just swap \(a\) and \(c\) without doing all the steps once you realize this is what happens.

So\[\sin 37^\circ = \frac{18}{x}\]\[x \sin 37^\circ = 18\]\[x = \frac{18}{\sin 37^\circ} \approx 29.91\]

Answer 11

Oops. I just did 18/37, not sin37. My bad. Okay. I get it now. Thanks so much! God bless you!

Answer 12

Make sure your calculator is in degree mode, not radian mode, or you'll get a different (and wrong!) answer.

Answer 13

Why don't you try it, make sure you get the same answer, then you'll know it is in the right mode.

Answer 14

I did. It is. I always get confused on when I need to use which form..