Question

The diagram shows a right-angled triangle.

17 cm
hcm
40°
What is the value of h?
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

Answer 1

h = 20.3 cm

Explanation:

Apply trigonometric ratio formula to find h.

Reference angle = 40°

Opposite side length = 17 cm

Adjacent side = h

Thus:

Tan (40) = 17/h

h × tan (40) = 17/h × h (multiplication property of equality)

h × tan(40) = 17

(h×tan(40)/tan(40) = 17/tan(40) (division property of equality)

h = 20.3 cm (1 decimal place)