Question

Consider the right triangle below. Solve for x. Label the sides in the image as opposite, adjacent, or hypotenuse, then show your work

Answer 1

Answer:   x = 19.7  (choice C)

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Explanation:

The reference angle is 24 degrees. Opposite that angle is the side 8 units long. The horizontal portion is unknown and it's the adjacent side.

Also unknown is the value of x which is the hypotenuse.

To summarize:

• opposite = vertical leg = 8
• adjacent = horizontal leg = unknown
• hypotenuse = x

The hypotenuse is always opposite the 90 degree angle.

To tie together the opposite and hypotenuse, we'll use the sine ratio

sin(angle) = opposite/hypotenuse

sin(24) = 8/x

x*sin(24) = 8

x = 8/sin(24)

x = 19.6687 approximately

x = 19.7 after rounding to the nearest tenth.

Side note: your calculator needs to be in degree mode