## anonymous one year ago y=

1. anonymous

2. anonymous

options are 4.6 13.9 21.6

3. mathstudent55

You need to use trigonometry of a right triangle.

4. anonymous

5. mathstudent55

Look at the triangle. Which side is the hypotenuse?

6. anonymous

Last Formula Tan60=8/y y=8/Tan60

7. UsukiDoll

errr but we're only given 1 side and 1 angle with 2 unknowns though ?!

8. mathstudent55

@shylibra16 For simplicity, call the sides x, y, and 8. Of the three sides x, y, and 8, which one is the hypotenuse?

9. anonymous

the x is the hypotenuse

10. mathstudent55

Good. That means the y and the 8 are legs. Now look at the given angle. For that given angle, which side, y or 8, is the adjacent leg?

11. mathstudent55

Hint: adjacent means "next to". Opposite means "across from".

12. anonymous

y

13. mathstudent55

|dw:1436846834358:dw|

14. mathstudent55

|dw:1436846878550:dw|

15. mathstudent55

For the 60-deg angle, the y side is the opposite leg. For the 60-deg angle, the 8 side is the adjacent leg.

16. mathstudent55

|dw:1436847013290:dw|

17. mathstudent55

We know the angle. We know the adjacent leg. We are looking for the opposite leg. Look above at @Nurali 's helpful figure, and see which trig function relates the angle to the opposite and adjacent legs?

18. anonymous

so its 13.9?

19. mathstudent55

The tangent relates the opposite and the adjacent legs. You get $$\tan 60^o = \dfrac{opp}{adj}$$ $$\tan 60^o = \dfrac{y}{8}$$ $$y = 8 \tan 60^o$$ $$y = 13.9$$ You are correct.

20. anonymous

YAY!

21. anonymous

Tan60=8/y Not Tan60=y/8

22. UsukiDoll

so if it's $\tan60 = \frac{8}{y}$ then $y[\tan60]=8$ $y=\frac{8}{\tan60}$ like that? @Nurali

23. anonymous

@mathstudent55 @shylibra16