Calculating Missing Angles and Sides in Right Triangle Using Trigonometry

  • Thread starter Thread starter Haroldingo
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Angle Tan Theta
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating missing angles and sides in a right triangle, specifically focusing on triangle ABC with a right angle at C. The user struggles with identifying the correct sides and angles, mistakenly labeling side CB as the hypotenuse instead of side AB. Clarifications are made regarding the definitions of adjacent, opposite, and hypotenuse sides, emphasizing that the hypotenuse is always opposite the right angle. The conversation highlights the importance of accurately describing the triangle's configuration and suggests drawing a diagram for better understanding. Overall, the thread underscores the need for clear problem descriptions in geometry to facilitate accurate calculations.
Haroldingo
Messages
38
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement



Ok, so this is really basic and i could do it at the snap of a finger liek a year ago but it's completely escaped me. Maths is too much.

This is a right angle triangle, with the right angle on angle C. Angles are marked A, B and C. Side CB = Adjacent, Side BA = Hyp and side CA = opposite.

A smaller triangle is sat with it's hypotenuse as side CA. It's a right angle triangle with D as the right angle, which sits on a line that travels from C to directly over A.

a) Calculate size of angle BAC.

Give your answer to 1 DP.

b) Calulate length of DA.

Give your answer to 3 sf.

Homework Equations



AB = 22cm
AC = 10cm
Angle ACB = angle ADC = Angle BAD = 90

The Attempt at a Solution



I'm stuck. It's a simple bit of knowledge I've forgotten.

Something to do with Sineθ ?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Haroldingo said:

Homework Statement



Ok, so this is really basic and i could do it at the snap of a finger liek a year ago but it's completely escaped me. Maths is too much.

This is a right angle triangle, with the right angle on angle C. Angles are marked A, B and C. Side CB = Hypotenuse, Side BA = Adjacent and side CA = opposite.
If C is the right angle, then the hypotenuse can't be CB.

The sides of the triangle would have to be AC and BC, and the hypotenuse would be AB.

Please give us the correct problem description.
Haroldingo said:
A smaller triangle is sat with it's hypotenuse as side CA. It's a right angle triangle with D as the right angle, which sits on a line that travels from C to directly over A.

a) Calculate size of angle BAC.

Give your answer to 1 DP.

b) Calulate length of DA.

Give your answer to 3 sf.

Homework Equations



AB = 22cm
AC = 10cm
Angle ACB = angle ADC = Angle BAD = 90

The Attempt at a Solution



I'm stuck. It's a simple bit of knowledge I've forgotten.

Something to do with Tanθ ?
 
Mark44 said:
If C is the right angle, then the hypotenuse can't be CB.

The sides of the triangle would have to be AC and BC, and the hypotenuse would be AB.

Please give us the correct problem description.

Oh crap, I'm sorry!

CB is the adjacent and angle AB is the Hypotenuse.
 
Does this change affect anything else in your problem description? If so, please edit your original post to correct anything that might be wrong. You can edit your post by clicking the Edit button.
 
Mark44 said:
Does this change affect anything else in your problem description? If so, please edit your original post to correct anything that might be wrong. You can edit your post by clicking the Edit button.

No, I don't think it should - I've edited whatever it may have effected
 
Haroldingo said:
No, I don't think it should - I've edited whatever it may have effected

Your description still doesn't make sense to me.
Haroldingo said:
This is a right angle triangle, with the right angle on angle C. Angles are marked A, B and C. Side CB = Adjacent, Side BA = Hyp and side CA = opposite.

A smaller triangle is sat with it's hypotenuse as side CA. It's a right angle triangle with D as the right angle, which sits on a line that travels from C to directly over A.
The hypotenuse of the smaller triangle is CA on the larger triangle. Where is point D? It can't be on line segment CA, since that's the hypotenuse (of the smaller triangle). Angle D has to be across from the hypotenuse.

If you can draw a picture of the two triangles, and label each angle, that would be helpful.
 
Haroldingo said:
Oh crap, I'm sorry!

CB is the adjacent and angle AB is the Hypotenuse.
Do you understand that the "hypotenuse" of a right triangle is the side opposite the right angle. "angle AB is the Hypotenuse" is impossible.
 
The OP meant side AB, but I am still not able to get a clear picture from his/her description.
 
Back
Top