Question

---I asked this question

Solve the following right triangles:
a. a=117 ft, b=16.35 ft
b. B=8 degrees 29',and a=32.8 ft


Reiny was kind enough to post this reply.


"solving" a triangle involves finding all missing sides and angles, so in
a) you found the sides, but still no angle.
tan B = 16.35/117 = 0.13974
angle B = 7.96°
subtract from 90° to find angle A

b) angle B = 8° 29' = (8+29/60)° = 8.48333°

tan 8.48333° = b/32.8
b= 4.892

now use Pythagoras to find the third side, and subtract angle B from 90 to get angle A

---but i am still having trouble with understanding the question and how the answers she posted were found .If u can explain to me in more details that would be great

Answer 1

The best tool to solve trigonometry and geometry problems is to draw a diagram. Unless you are very capable of drawing images in your mind, it is always a good idea to draw the figure, label it with all the given information and add more information as you go along.

This practice will not only help you solve the current problem, but you will, in time, see a pattern that will help you solve future problems.

Try to draw a right triangle, and label all the information on the figure. Proceed to solve as Reiny suggested. You will have no problem understanding Reiny's solution.

If you have problems creating the figures, see:

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/6568/1295158166.jpg

Answer 2

There is a mistake in the figure for part a. TanB=... should read tan^-1....