Question

In AWXY, the measure of ZY=90°, WY = 5, XW = 13, and YX = 12. What ratio

represents the cosine of ZW?

Answer 1

Given:

In
`\Delta WXY, m\angle Y=90^\circ, WY=5, XW=13` and
`YX=12`.

To find:

The ratio represents the cosine of
`\angle W`.

Solution:

In
`\Delta WXY, m\angle Y=90^\circ`. It means the opposite side of angle Y, i.e., XW is the hypotenuse of the triangle.

In a right angle triangle,

`\cos \theta =(Base)/(Hypotenuse)`

In the given triangle,

`\cos W=(WY)/(XW)`

`\cos W=(5)/(13)`

Therefore, the required cosine ratio is
`(5)/(13)`.