Question

Find the cosine of ∠H.
10
24
26
H
I
J
Simplify your answer and write it as a proper fraction, improper fraction, or whole number.
cos(H)=

Answer 1

I don’t have the diagram, so I’m not sure which side (HI, HJ, or IJ) is length 10, 24, or 26. Could you tell me which side corresponds to each length (for example: HI = 10, HJ = 26, IJ = 24)?

If you can’t, here are the possible answers depending on the labeling (26 is the hypotenuse because 10^2+24^2=26^2):

- If the side HJ (the side meeting H used as the hypotenuse) is 26 and HI = 10, then cos(H) = 10/26 = 5/13.
- If HJ = 26 and HI = 24, then cos(H) = 24/26 = 12/13.
- If the side opposite H is 26 (so angle H is 90°), then cos(H) = 0.

Tell me which segment is which and I’ll give the single correct value.