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42 votes
42 votes
Solve for the following right triangle upper a and h

Solve for the following right triangle upper a and h-example-1
User Nicolas Finelli
by
2.6k points

1 Answer

13 votes
13 votes

First let's use pythagorean theorem:

c² = a² + b²

Where:

a = a

c = 15

b = 8

15² = a² + 8²

225 = a² + 64

Solving for a:

Subtract 64 from both sides:

225 - 64 = a²

161 = a²

Take the square root to both sides:

√(161) = a

a = √(161)

Let's use law of sines to find θ:

8/sin(θ) = 15/sin(90)

Solving for θ:

sin(θ) = 8/15

θ = arcsin(8/15) = 32.23095264

Since the sum of the sum of the internal angles of a triangle is 180:

90 + 32.23095264 + α = 180

Solving for α:

α = 180 - 90 - 32.23095264 = 57.76904736

Using law of sines again:

8/sin(90) = h/sin(57.76904736)

Solving for h:

h = 8*sin(57.76904736) = 6.767241355

User Bryan Focht
by
2.8k points
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