Question

Triangle A B C is shown. Angle A C B is a right angle. The length of the hypotenuse is 20.

What additional information would be necessary to determine sin(A) without using the Pythagorean theorem? Explain.


The length of AC is needed because it is the side adjacent to ∠A.

The length of AC is needed because it is the side opposite ∠A.

The length of BC is needed because it is the side opposite ∠A.

The length of BC is needed because it is the side adjacent to ∠A.

Answer 1

Bc is needed because it is opposite of A

Explanation:

Answer 2

The length of BC is needed because it is the side opposite ∠A.

Explanation:

Given the right angles triangle as shown in the attachment, we can get sin(A) without using Pythagoras theorem. Instead we will use SOH CAH TOA trigonometry identity.

According to SOH:

Sin(A) = Opposite/Hypotenuse

Sin(A) = |BC|/|AB|

Opposite side of the triangle is the side facing ∠A.

Based on the formula, we will need to get the opposite side of the triangle which is length BC for us to be able to determine sinA since the hypotenuse is given.