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

Question

kjkhjkh76876 · Answer

180(n−2)n=168

dreamsawakes · Answer

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

dreamsawakes · Answer

o-o wait what

dreamsawakes · Answer

Please help!

hungergames13 · Answer

Designate the unknown distance between the earth and the sun 
as distance z. Therefore... 

tan x = y/z 

z(tan x) = y 

z = y/tan x

dreamsawakes · Answer

is that it?

mathstudent55 · Answer

The tangent does not involve the hypotenuse.

mathstudent55 · Answer

$\sin \theta = \dfrac{opp}{hyp} $

$\cos \theta = \dfrac{adj}{hyp} $

$\tan \theta = \dfrac{opp}{adj} $

mathstudent55 · Answer

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mathstudent55 · Answer

We are looking for distance "a", the distance between the Earth and the Moon.

mathstudent55 · Answer

In the triangle, side y is the hypotenuse.
For angle x, side a is the opposite leg.
The trig function that relates the opposite leg to the hypotenuse is the sine. 

$\sin x = \dfrac{opp}{hyp} $

$\sin x = \dfrac{a}{y}$

$a = y \sin x$

dreamsawakes · Answer

Thank you, I just got that.