Question

What is the area of triangle XYZ to the nearest tenth of a square inch? Use special right triangles to help find

the height
Y
28 in
60
X
z

Answer 1

Area = 169.7 in^2

Explanation:

The two given angles are 90 and 60 degrees. Since a triangle's angles always add to 180 degrees, the third angle is 30 degrees. The is known as a "30-60-90 triangle." It is a special right triangle that has side length values which are always in the same relationship with one another.

The sides of the 30-60-90 triangle ratio are:

Side opposite the 30° angle is x

Side opposite the 60° angle is x*√3

Side opposite the 90° angle is 2x

See attached image for the detail on the calculations.