Answer:
x = 13.7
Step-by-step explanation:
This is a right triangle so we use the trig ratios. We need an angle of reference (not the right angle) and any side (which is given, hypotenuse = 47).
We can either find the angle at the top or the right to be the angle of reference, Θ (theta).
Angle at the top:
The two angles, 17° and the unknown interior angle add to 90° because they are complementary.
∠Θ = 90° - 17° = 73°
Now use the trig ratio cosine.
cosΘ = adjacent ÷ hypotenuse
cos(73°) = x / 47
x = 47cos(73°)
x = 13.74147..... Round down the exact answer to nearest tenth
x ≈ 13.7 Answer
The value of x is the same as the side adjacent to the angle of reference I chose.
If I chose the other missing angle to be the angle of reference, I would use sine and x would be opposite.
