In triangle ABC, angle A is 30 degrees, angle B is 45 degrees, and side a (opposite angle A) is 10 units long. What is the length of side b (opposite angle B)?

1 answer

To find the length of side \( b \) in triangle \( ABC \), we can use the Law of Sines, which states:

\[ \frac{a}{\sin A} = \frac{b}{\sin B} \]

Given:

  • \( a = 10 \) (side opposite angle \( A \))
  • \( \angle A = 30^\circ \)
  • \( \angle B = 45^\circ \)

We need to find \( \sin A \) and \( \sin B \):

\[ \sin A = \sin 30^\circ = \frac{1}{2} \] \[ \sin B = \sin 45^\circ = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \]

Now we can set up the equation using the Law of Sines:

\[ \frac{10}{\frac{1}{2}} = \frac{b}{\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}} \]

Calculating the left side:

\[ \frac{10}{\frac{1}{2}} = 10 \times 2 = 20 \]

So we have:

\[ 20 = \frac{b}{\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}} \]

To solve for \( b \), multiply both sides by \( \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \):

\[ b = 20 \times \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \]

Calculating \( b \):

\[ b = 10\sqrt{2} \]

Thus, the length of side \( b \) is

\[ \boxed{10\sqrt{2}} \]