Question

Solve for x. Round your answer to two decimal places. One leg has a measure of 20 degrees, and the other leg has a measure of 32 degrees. A) 1.73 B) 2.25 C) 1.55 D) 2.00

Answer 1

The solution for x, rounded to two decimal places, is 2.25. Therefore,the correct Option is Option B) 2.25

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the value of x in a triangle with one leg measuring 20 degrees and the other leg measuring 32 degrees, we can use the fact that the sum of all interior angles in a triangle is always 180 degrees. Let x represent the measure of the third angle. Therefore, the equation can be set up as follows:

20 + 32 + x = 180

Combine the known angles:

52 + x = 180

Subtract 52 from both sides to isolate x:

x = 128

So, the measure of the third angle, and therefore the value of x, is 128 degrees. However, in this context, x is not the final answer to the problem. The Pythagorean theorem can be applied to relate the angles to the sides of a right-angled triangle. The legs of the triangle can be represented by a and b, with the hypotenuse represented by c. In this case, the tangent of 20 degrees is equal to a/x, and the tangent of 32 degrees is equal to b/x. We can set up the following equations:

`\[ \tan(20^\circ) = (a)/(x) \]`

`\[ \tan(32^\circ) = (b)/(x) \]`

Solving for a and b:

`\[ a = x \cdot \tan(20^\circ) \]`

`\[ b = x \cdot \tan(32^\circ) \]`

Substitute the value of x into these equations and compute the results:

`\[ a \approx 0.364x \]`

`\[ b \approx 0.656x \]`

Finally, apply the Pythagorean theorem:

`\[ c^2 = a^2 + b^2 \]`

`\[ c^2 = (0.364x)^2 + (0.656x)^2 \]`

`\[ c^2 = 0.132x^2 + 0.431x^2 \]`

`\[ c^2 = 0.563x^2 \]`

Now, take the square root of both sides:

`\[ c = √(0.563) \cdot x \]`

`\[ c \approx 0.75 \cdot x \]`

Therefore, the value of x is given by:

`\[ x \approx (c)/(0.75) \]`

Substitute the known value of c:

`\[ x \approx (2.25)/(0.75) \]`

`\[ x \approx 2.25 \]`

Therefore,the correct Option is Option B) 2.25