Final answer:
To find the length of side x in a right triangle given the adjacent side a as 27 cm and an angle b of 40°, you would use the cosine of that angle to set up the equation x = a / cos(40°) and then solve for x.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question provided seems to refer to finding the length of a side in a trigonometric context, probably within a right triangle where an angle and a corresponding side (aside from the hypotenuse or a side opposite the angle given) are known.
Since we're given an angle (b) of 40° and a side labeled a with a length of 27 cm, it's likely that we're dealing with a right-angle triangle and we would need to use one of the trigonometric ratios to find the length of the side x.
If side a corresponds to the side adjacent to the 40° angle and x is the hypotenuse, we would use the cosine function:
- cos(40°) = a/x
- x = a / cos(40°)
- x = 27 cm / cos(40°)
By calculating the cosine of 40° and then dividing 27 cm by this cosine value, we can find the length of side x to five decimal places. To ensure accuracy, it would be important to use a scientific calculator or appropriate mathematical software capable of giving a precise value.