Question

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 1

@dan815

Answer 2

@jigglypuff314 @Michele_Laino

Answer 3

If someone can help me work out the problem we can do it together. I'm not looking just for an answer, I want to learn!

Answer 4

well think about the trigonometric functions. If the angle on the top right is a right angle. Lets call the distance from moon to sun z. well what function (sin cos or tan) will represent the all of the variables?

Answer 5

Well i know SOH CAH TOA

Answer 6

Would we try to find the cosine?
Because we need to find Z and Y?

Answer 7

ok, so you know that you can take the sin(x) = y/z or opposite over hypotenuse. Now given that you have the values of x and y, z is simply, by the algebraic simplification, y/sin(x). z is the hypotenuse.

Answer 8

Why the sin?

Answer 9

I thought it was Cos? @Ndude1

Answer 10

@Hero