Question

help me

Answer 1

The moon forms a right triangle with the Earth and the Sun during one of its phases, as shown below:



A scientist measures the angle x and the distance y between the Earth and the Sun. Using complete sentences, explain how the scientist can use only these two measurements to calculate the distance between the moon and the Sun.

Answer 2

@amistre64

Answer 3

Well, I think that it's simply:
\[\cos x = y/d\]
thus:
\[d = y/\cos x\]

Answer 4

A way to explain it is that you can solve for the other variables if you get two or more variables to begin with.

If you only have one variable, you cannot solve it at all.
There are formulas for getting distance between moon and sun, earth and sun, and earth and the moon.

There are other formulas regarding the angles you can use as well if you get the angle.
Shown with figures;


The sides are lengths. By solving is done (by knowing 2 variables out of the three) by turning the formula around so you get the unknown on one side.