Answer:
C
Explanation:
To determine the number of distinct triangles that can be made with the given measurements, we can use the Law of Sines, which states:
a/sin(A) = b/sin(B) = c/sin(C)
where a, b, c are the lengths of the sides opposite to the angles A, B, and C, respectively.
Using this formula, we can solve for sin(B) as follows:
sin(B) = b*sin(A)/a
sin(B) = 8*sin(42°)/3
sin(B) ≈ 0.896
Since sin(B) is a positive value, we know that there are two possible angles B that satisfy this equation: one acute angle and one obtuse angle. To find the acute angle B, we take the inverse sine of sin(B):
B = sin^(-1)(0.896)
B ≈ 63.8°
To find the obtuse angle, we subtract the acute angle from 180°:
B' = 180° - 63.8°
B' ≈ 116.2°
Now, we can use the fact that the sum of the angles in a triangle is 180° to find the possible values for angle C. For the acute triangle, we have:
C = 180° - A - B
C = 180° - 42° - 63.8°
C ≈ 74.2°
For the obtuse triangle, we have:
C' = 180° - A - B'
C' = 180° - 42° - 116.2°
C' ≈ 21.8°
Therefore, we have found two distinct triangles that can be made with the given measurements: one acute triangle with angles A = 42°, B ≈ 63.8°, and C ≈ 74.2°, and one obtuse triangle with angles A = 42°, B' ≈ 116.2°, and C' ≈ 21.8°. Thus, the answer is C. 2.