A shooting star forms a right triangle with the Earth and the Sun, as shown below:

Question

keigh2015 · Answer

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

soprano.h.d0816 · Answer

You can you either the Law of Sines or the Law of Cosines

keigh2015 · Answer

What exactly do you mean?

soprano.h.d0816 · Answer

Are you in Geometry?

keigh2015 · Answer

Yes, I am.

soprano.h.d0816 · Answer

Okay. So:
The Law of Sines is used to find the missing angles/sides of a right or non-right triangle. The Law of Cosines is also used for that.

soprano.h.d0816 · Answer

Hold on. Let me give you some links to explain this better lol