Answer:
AC = 6
Step-by-step explanation:
y is the dimension of the horizontal segment (see the attached image).
The hypotenuses are the same dimension, so:
(x+4)^2=(x/2)^2+y^2
(3x-8)^2=(x/2)^2+y^2
So,
(x+4)^2 = (3x-8)^2
x+4 = 3x-8
x-3x = -8-4
-2x = -12
x = 6
And x is the dimension of the segment AC.
1. Answer (D). By the law of sines, we have in any
2. Answer (C). The law of cosines, accepts up to three sides and an angle as an input.
3. Answer (D). Although this triangle is right, we are not given enough information to uniquely determine its sides and angles - here, we need either one more side or one more angle.
4. Answer (D). Don't get tripped up by answer choice (C) - this is just a rearrangement of the statement of the law of cosines. In choice (D), the signs of and
are reversed.
5. Answer (B). By the law of sines, we have Solving gives
Note that this is the <em>ambiguous (SSA) case</em> of the law of sines, where the given measures could specify one triangle, two triangles, or none at all!
6. Answer (A). Since we know all three sides and none of the angles, starting with the law of sines will not help, so we begin with the law of cosines to find one angle; from there, we can use the law of sines to find the remaining angles.