Question

I need help!

Answer 1

yes you do
question please?

Answer 2

A shooting star forms a right triangle with the Earth and the Sun, 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 Earth and the shooting star.

Answer 3

@acxbox22

Answer 4

do you know your trig ratios?

Answer 5

Yes well im not great at it @acxbox22

Answer 6

Well, if we have a triangle



with 'x' and 'y' known..

we can see that 'y' is the side adjacent to the 'x'
and we can see the side we need is the hypotenuse of the the triangle

So which trig function uses adjacent and hypotenuse?

Answer 7

remember
SOH CAH TOA

Answer 8

sorry I'm incorrect there..

Answer 9

yeah

Answer 10

distance between EARTH and shooting star...

so the side we want is actually OPPOSITE the 'x'

Answer 11

yes we are actually using opposite and adjacent

Answer 12

So we have ''x'

the side adjacent to 'x'
and we want the side opposite 'x'

So which trig function uses opposite and adjacent?

Answer 13

so that would be Tan=opp/adj

Answer 14

yes gr8!

Answer 15

so now just put all that into an explanation :)

Answer 16

Correct

So using the tangent function the scientist can measure the distance neded

Answer 17

So would this work:
The scientist can use only these two measurements to calculate the distance between the Earth and the shooting star if they use tangent function, which is the opposite divided by the adjacent side.

Answer 18

@acxbox22

Answer 19

looks good :)