Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus, 7th Edition

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 1305071751
ISBN 13: 978-1-30507-175-9

Chapter 6 - Section 6.2 - Trigonometry of Right Triangles - 6.2 Exercises - Page 488: 44

Answer

$\angle A=\dfrac{\pi}{8}$ $a\approx392.65$ $;$ $b\approx162.64$

Work Step by Step

The triangle is shown in the attached image below. Two angles are known. Let $\angle A$ be the unknown angle, $\angle B$ be the angle marked as $\dfrac{3\pi}{8}$ and $\angle C$ be the right angle. Since $\angle A+\angle B+\angle C=\pi$, substitute the known angles into the formula and solve for $\angle A$: $\angle A=\pi-\dfrac{\pi}{2}-\dfrac{3\pi}{8}=\dfrac{\pi}{8}$ Use the sine trigonometric ratio of the angle marked as $\dfrac{3\pi}{8}$ to obtain the unknown cathetus marked as $a$: $\sin\dfrac{3\pi}{8}=\dfrac{a}{425}$ $a=425\sin\dfrac{3\pi}{8}\approx392.65$ Use the Pythagorean Theorem to obtain the cathetus marked as $b$: $b=\sqrt{425^{2}-392.65^{2}}\approx162.64$
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