Advanced Trigonometry: Solving for CX in a Triangle with Area 56.4 (3sf)

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on solving for the length of CX in a triangle with an area of 56.4. The user initially misphrased their question, clarifying they seek the length BX, with angle CXB being a right angle. They cannot use the cosine rule due to having only one length (15) and one angle (90 degrees). The conversation suggests using two right triangles, CXA and CXB, and applying the sine function to relate CX to the known lengths and angles. The proposed relationships involve the angles at C and their sine ratios, indicating a potential method to find CX.
david18
Messages
49
Reaction score
0
I found the area of this triangle to be 56.4 (to 3sf) easily but i can't work out the length of CX. any ideas?
 

Attachments

  • mathsq.jpg
    mathsq.jpg
    7.1 KB · Views: 475
Physics news on Phys.org
Did you try the cosine law?

c2= a2+ b2- 2ab cos(C)

a= 15, b= 8, and C= 70 degrees.
 
sorry i think i worded my question incrorrectly. I'm looking for the length BX. Angle CXB is a right angle. I can't use the cosine rule because i only know one length (15) and one angle (90degrees)
 
In other words, x is the point at the foot of the altitude! I was thinking x was th length of AB. You have two right triangles, CXA and CXB. The two given lengths are the lengths of the hypotenuses. Let the two angles at C be a and b. You know that CX/8= sin(a), CX/15= sin(b), and a+ b= 70. Is that enough?
 

Thread 'Family of lines that are at a distance of 5 from the origin'

I picked up this problem from the Schaum's series book titled "College Mathematics" by Ayres/Schmidt. It is a solved problem in the book. But what surprised me was that the solution to this problem was given in one line without any explanation. I could, therefore, not understand how the given one-line solution was reached. The one-line solution in the book says: The equation is ##x \cos{\omega} +y \sin{\omega} - 5 = 0##, ##\omega## being the parameter. From my side, the only thing I could...
View full post »

Similar threads

Finding the Distance to a Building with Trigonometry
Replies
4
Views
3K
Finding area of a non right angled triangle
Replies
9
Views
3K
Trigonometry: finding an angle, area and length of sector of a circle
Replies
2
Views
2K
Finding height and area of trapezoid from its legs and bases
Replies
12
Views
4K
Length of AD inside a triangle ABC
Replies
5
Views
2K
Area of Triangle: Find the Unknown Formula
Replies
9
Views
2K
Sides of a triangle
Replies
16
Views
2K
Area of interior triangle of pyramid normal to a side length
Replies
3
Views
1K
Radius of circumference circumscribed to a triangle
Replies
1
Views
1K
Area of Outer Triangle composed of two inner triangles
Replies
15
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top