In Exercises 30–32, find the measure of the side of the right triangle whose length is designated by a lowercase letter. Round answers to the nearest whole number.
Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 45m
- 1. Measuring Angles40m
- 2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
- 3. Unit Circle1h 19m
- 4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
- 5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
- 6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
- 7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
- 8. Vectors2h 25m
- 9. Polar Equations2h 5m
- 10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
- 11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m
2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles
Solving Right Triangles
Problem 7
Textbook Question
Solve the right triangle shown in the figure. Round lengths to two decimal places and express angles to the nearest tenth of a degree. a = 30.4, c = 50.2

Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the sides and angles in the right triangle. Here, side \(a\) corresponds to \(p\), side \(c\) corresponds to \(r\) (the hypotenuse), and side \(b\) corresponds to \(q\). Given: \(a = 30.4\) and \(c = 50.2\).
Use the Pythagorean theorem to find the missing side \(b\) (or \(q\)):
\[b = \sqrt{c^2 - a^2} = \sqrt{50.2^2 - 30.4^2}\]
Calculate angle \(Q\) using the sine function, since \(\sin(Q) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}} = \frac{a}{c}\):
\[Q = \sin^{-1}\left(\frac{a}{c}\right) = \sin^{-1}\left(\frac{30.4}{50.2}\right)\]
Calculate angle \(P\) by subtracting angle \(Q\) from 90 degrees (since the triangle is right-angled):
\[P = 90^\circ - Q\]
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Right Triangle Properties
A right triangle has one angle of 90 degrees, and the side opposite this angle is the hypotenuse, the longest side. The other two sides are called legs. Understanding these properties helps in applying trigonometric ratios and the Pythagorean theorem to solve for unknown sides or angles.
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Pythagorean Theorem
This theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse (longest side) equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides. It is expressed as r² = p² + q². This relationship is essential for finding missing side lengths when two sides are known.
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Trigonometric Ratios (Sine, Cosine, Tangent)
Trigonometric ratios relate the angles of a right triangle to the ratios of its sides. Sine = opposite/hypotenuse, Cosine = adjacent/hypotenuse, and Tangent = opposite/adjacent. These ratios are used to find unknown angles or sides when some measurements are given.
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Sine, Cosine, & Tangent of 30°, 45°, & 60°
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