Question

Find x. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a degree.

Answer 1

Relative to x, the side of 16 is the hypotenuse, and the side of 9 is adjacent.

So we think, what trigonometric property relates hypotenuse and adjacent sides of a right triangle?

SOH CAH TOA

We can use the COSINE function to solve in this case, as we have both the ADJACENT SIDE (A) and the HYPOTENUSE (H).

Cosine = Adjacent/Hypotenuse

Cosine (x) = 9/16

Angle x = 55.8 degrees.

Let me know if this helps!

Answer 2

x = 55.8

Explanation:

Since this is a right triangle, we can use trig functions

cos theta = adj / hypotenuse

cos x = 9/16

Taking the inverse cos of each side

cos^-1 (cos x) = cos^-1 (9/16)

x=55.77113

To the nearest tenth

x = 55.8