Question

How would I find a? What formula would I use?

Answer 1

Answer:

  You can use either of the following to find "a":

• Pythagorean theorem
• Law of Cosines

Step-by-step explanation:

It looks like you have an isosceles trapezoid with one base 12.6 ft and a height of 15 ft.

I find it reasonably convenient to find the length of x using the sine of the 70° angle:

  x = (15 ft)/sin(70°)

  x ≈ 15.96 ft

That is not what you asked, but this value is sufficiently different from what is marked on your diagram, that I thought it might be helpful.

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Consider the diagram below. The relation between DE and AE can be written as ...

  DE/AE = tan(70°)

  AE = DE/tan(70°) = DE·tan(20°)

  AE = 15·tan(20°) ≈ 5.459554

Then the length EC is ...

  EC = AC - AE

  EC = 6.3 - DE·tan(20°) ≈ 0.840446

Now, we can find DC using the Pythagorean theorem:

  DC² = DE² + EC²

  DC = √(15² +0.840446²) ≈ 15.023527

  a ≈ 15.02 ft

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You can also make use of the Law of Cosines and the lengths x=AD and AC to find "a". (Do not round intermediate values from calculations.)

  DC² = AD² + AC² - 2·AD·AC·cos(A)

  a² = x² +6.3² -2·6.3x·cos(70°) ≈ 225.70635

  a = √225.70635 ≈ 15.0235 . . . feet