Question

Given △ABC ~ △XYZ, what is the value of cos(Z)? I need help understanding why this is the answer I need an explanation. Thank you

Answer 1

12/13

Explanation:

It is because the 12 is over the 13, so you would you take A and B multiply by the 3 till you hit C. this will leave you with Z which is like the salt of the C but not like the buzz of the B. Once you memorized that you can understand that you must find cos(z) which you find by using a calculator or simply by pen and paper. Its a lot easier to just wright it down so you don't lose track of your numbers. scratch that, that had nothing to do with what I was talking about.

(ABC~XYZ means the two triangles are similar) If you look it is a dilation. (C maps to Z) so leg (BC maps to YZ) and (AC maps to XZ) XZ being the 13 and YZ being the 12.

Answer 2

It is 12/13.

Since the triangles are similar, the corresponding angles are congruent. This means that m∠C = m∠Z, and that cos C = cos Z.

The ratio for cosine is adjacent/hypotenuse;

cos C = 12/13, since the side marked 12 is adjacent to angle C and 13 is the hypotenuse of this triangle. Since the angles and cosines for C and Z will be the same, cos Z = 12/13 as well.