Question

using cos my ramp length is 4.8 and my adjacent is 36ft what would be my opposite?

Answer 1

To find the opposite side of a right triangle when you know the length of the hypotenuse (ramp length) and the length of the adjacent side, you can use the Pythagorean theorem. However, you can also use trigonometric functions.

Given:
- Length of the hypotenuse \( c = 4.8 \) ft
- Length of the adjacent side \( a = 36 \) ft

From the cosine function:

\[
\cos(\theta) = \frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypotenuse}} = \frac{a}{c}
\]

To find the angle \( \theta \):

\[
\cos(\theta) = \frac{36}{4.8}
\]

However, this setup indicates that the adjacent side you provided is greater than the hypotenuse, which isn’t possible in a right triangle.

Make sure you meant the ramp length of 4.8 feet, as the adjacent side should be shorter than the hypotenuse. Please verify your values for accurate calculation.