Question

Given a right triangle ABC, if the measure of angle A is 77', and cos (77) = sin(0).

what is the value of 0 ?

Answer 1

Answer: Theta = 13 degrees

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Rule:

If cos(A) = sin(B), then A+B = 90

This can be proven through the use of drawing a right triangle with acute angles A and B. Let's say C is the 90 degree angle.

Then note how cos(A) = adjacent/hypotenuse = AC/AB while sin(B) = opposite/hypotenuse = AC/AB. We see that both evaluate to AC/AB. So this confirms cos(A) = sin(B) is true.

The condition that A+B = 90 is from from the fact that any pair of acute angles of a right triangle are complementary angles.

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Using that rule, we can say

cos(77) = sin(theta)

leads to

77+theta = 90

and that solves to

theta = 90-77 = 13