Question

In the triangle below, determine the value of a.

Answer 1

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

This is classic right triangle trig.  Side a, our unknown, is adjacent to angle C which is a given.  You always have to use a given angle and side to find a missing side, so we have to figure out how the two givens are related to our unknown.  Side a is adjacent to angle C, and we are also given the hypotenuse.  We know side a is not the hypotenuse since the hypotenuse is ALWAYS the side across from the 90 degree angle.  The tan ratio of angle C will give us a way to have only one unknown.

tan 43 = a/26 and

26 tan 43 = a

Use your calculator now to find the missing side.  

a = 24.2 units long