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In the Triangle below the length of AC is 6 what is the length of BC

In the Triangle below the length of AC is 6 what is the length of BC-example-1
User CAdaker
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1 Answer

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Right triangles

Initial explanation

We know that the tangent equation if given by:


\tan (\alpha)=\frac{opposite\text{ side}}{\text{adjacent side}}

In this case, with respect to 30º, the opposite side is AC and the adjacent is BC:

Tangent equation in this case

Then, in this case, we have


\begin{gathered} \tan (30º)=\frac{AC}{\text{BC}} \\ \\ \end{gathered}

since tan(30º) = 0.577 and AC = 6, then:


\begin{gathered} \tan (30º)=\frac{AC}{\text{BC}} \\ \downarrow \\ 0.577=\frac{6}{\text{BC}} \end{gathered}

Finding BC

Now, we can solve the equation for BC "leaving it alone".

Step 1- taking BC to the left side, we have:


\begin{gathered} 0.577=\frac{6}{\text{BC}} \\ \downarrow \\ 0.577\cdot BC=6 \end{gathered}

Step 2- taking 0.577 to the right side:


\begin{gathered} 0.577\cdot BC=6 \\ \downarrow \\ BC=(6)/(0.577) \end{gathered}

Then,


BC=(6)/(0.577)\cong10.4

Answer: BC = 10.4

In the Triangle below the length of AC is 6 what is the length of BC-example-1
User Brandon Hill
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