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Finding Missing Sides in Right Triangles

The document discusses finding missing information in right triangles. It explains that the Pythagorean theorem, a^2 + b^2 = c^2, can be used to find the missing third side if two sides are known. It also describes how trigonometric functions like sine can help determine a missing side or angle if one side and its corresponding angle are known. Special right triangles, which have acute angles of 30, 45, and 90 degrees, are also discussed as their side lengths are in simple ratios that allow for easy calculation of missing values.

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Alexander Lucas
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64 views3 pages

Finding Missing Sides in Right Triangles

The document discusses finding missing information in right triangles. It explains that the Pythagorean theorem, a^2 + b^2 = c^2, can be used to find the missing third side if two sides are known. It also describes how trigonometric functions like sine can help determine a missing side or angle if one side and its corresponding angle are known. Special right triangles, which have acute angles of 30, 45, and 90 degrees, are also discussed as their side lengths are in simple ratios that allow for easy calculation of missing values.

Uploaded by

Alexander Lucas
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Assignment 4.

05 by Lucas Pina

1. If I know the lengths of two sides of a right triangle, how do I find the third? Great question, so how does one find the missing angle once we know two of the angles of a triangle. The best response is to use Pythagoras therom, what this therom does is provide a framework for which we can use to solve the missing angle through the equation a^2+b^2=c^2 what this equation means is that a^2 and b^2 which are the bases of the triangle can be used to give us the hypotenuse of a triangle which can be rephrased as c^2. So suppose we have a triangle

with the following dimensions, a=5 and b=3 now all we need is c, but this time we know what to do. What we are going to do is add 5^2 and 3^2 which gives us 34. We now have the measurement for all sides. 2. Could I find the two missing side lengths of a right triangle if I only know one side length and one angle measure (other than the 90 degree angle)? yes you can a perfect example would be to Solve the right triangle ABC if we suppose angle A is 36, and side c is 10 cm.

Assignment 4.05 by Lucas Pina


The solution to that could be deduced in the following manner. Since angle A is 36, then angle B is 90 36 = 54.

To find an unknown side, always remember the following steps to assure yourself you are doing it right.:

1. Make the unknown side the numerator of a fraction, and make the known side the denominator. Unknown Known = a 10 2. Name that function of the angle. Unknown Known = a 10 = sin 36 3. Use the trigonometric Table to evaluate that function. Unknown Known = a 10 = sin 36 = .588 4. Solve for the unknown side.

a = 10 .588 cm = 5.88 cm

Assignment 4.05 by Lucas Pina


3. Could I find the two missing angle measures if I know some of the side lengths of a right triangle? Yes you can. If you know the side lengths you can find the known relationship with the angle as explained in number 4 to give you the missing angle measures. 4. What makes a triangle a special right triangle? How can special right triangles help me find side lengths? What makes a triangle special is its measure of acute angles. These special triangles can help you find side lengths due to the known relationship it has with the sides of a triangle such as the short leg being a half of the hypotenuse and the long leg can be calculated with the short leg through multiplication of the short leg by the square root of 3.

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