Question

In right triangle XYZ, ∠Y is the right angle and m∠X = 60°. If YZ = 4, what is XY?

Answer 1

Answer:

B is the best answer

The question is illustrated with the attached figure.

Required

Determine XY

To solve for XY, we make use of the tan function, which states that:

tan\theta = \frac{Opposite}{Hypotenuse}tanθ=

Hypotenuse

Opposite

In this case:

tan\ 60= \frac{YZ}{XY}tan 60=

XY

YZ

Substitute 4 for YZ

tan\ 60= \frac{4}{XY}tan 60=

XY

4

Make XY the subject

XY= \frac{4}{tan\ 60}XY=

tan 60

4

tan\ 60 =\sqrt 3tan 60=

3

So, the expression becomes:

XY = \frac{4}{\sqrt 3}XY=

3

4

Rationalize:

XY = \frac{4 * \sqrt 3}{\sqrt 3 * \sqrt 3}XY=

3

∗

3

4∗

3

XY = \frac{4\sqrt 3}{3}XY=

3

4

3