Question

Given: ABC is a right triangle with right angle C. AC = 15 centimeters and m<A = 40°.

What is BC, to the nearest tenth?

Answer 1

`S(O)/(H)C(A)/(H)T(O)/(A)` or
`Sin(Opposite)/(Hypotenuse)Cos(Adjacent)/(Hypotenuse)Tan(Opposite)/(Adjacent)`

The hypotenuse is the longest side of the triangle.

The opposite side is the side across from a point/angle.

The adjacent side is the side next to the point/angle.

To find BC, you can do this:

tan 40° = O / A

tan 40° =
`(BC)/(15)` Multiply 15 on both sides

15(tan 40°) = BC

12.6 = BC

BC = 12.6 cm