# Trig problem

1. Sep 4, 2010

### ooovooos

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
[PLAIN]http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/5062/dgsdgsdgs.jpg [Broken]
what is h??

2. Relevant equations
tan x = sin x/ cos x
cos x = adj/hyp
sin x = opp/hyp

3. The attempt at a solution
uh im not even really sure where to start. i havent done trig in a really really long time. im guessing you have to use trig. and i set the area under the dotted triangle as x so the entire bottom length would be 100 + X but im not even sure how that helps.
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

Last edited by a moderator: May 4, 2017
2. Sep 4, 2010

### Staff: Mentor

Add one unknown - length of the leg adjacent to 60° angle. You have two unknowns - h and the leg. Can you express tangents of both angles using these unknowns (and known length 100)?

3. Sep 4, 2010

### ooovooos

^ no offense but the "clue" you gave was so small that i'm just back where I started...confused...didnt really push me in any particular direction. -_-
tan 30 = h / (100 + x) = sqrt 3 over 3
tan 60 = h / x = sqrt 3?
i dont see how that helps.
i tried solving for h using the one that equals tan 60..that turns out to be x times sqrt 3...i plugged that into the first equation...and that just seems way too complicated. I did this type of question two years ago in HS...i am so sure this question isnt supposed to be this complicated.

4. Sep 5, 2010

### Bohrok

Is this the equation you got?

$$\frac{x\sqrt{3}}{100 + x} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$$

It requires a bit of algebra, but it's not bad.

5. Sep 5, 2010

### Staff: Mentor

You got to two equations in two unknowns, and you are solving them using correct approach. Just don't give up.