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In the triangle below, determine the value of a.

In the triangle below, determine the value of a.-example-1
User VonUbisch
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Answer:

Explanation:

This is classic right triangle trig. Side a, our unknown, is adjacent to angle C which is a given. You always have to use a given angle and side to find a missing side, so we have to figure out how the two givens are related to our unknown. Side a is adjacent to angle C, and we are also given the hypotenuse. We know side a is not the hypotenuse since the hypotenuse is ALWAYS the side across from the 90 degree angle. The tan ratio of angle C will give us a way to have only one unknown.

tan 43 = a/26 and

26 tan 43 = a

Use your calculator now to find the missing side.

a = 24.2 units long

User Piers C
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