Monday, November 30, 2009

Trigs

Trig deals with 3 lengths placed together to form an enclosed shape called a triangle. This triangle will now have 3 angles. Remember an angle can be formed with 2 lengths like a Vand this angle will create a length which is like the open side of the V.
A triangle can be of 2 types:

  • right angle
  • non right angle

With the right angle triangle, one angle is 90 degrees. The sides of the triangles are labelled or named with respect to an angle (not the 90) in the triangle.

  • Identify the angle
  • Longest side hyp
  • opp is opposite to the angle
  • adj is adjacent to the angle

Anything to be found can be evaluated using sin, cos, tan or pythagoras theorem.

With a non right angle triangle

  • label the vertices
  • label the angles
  • Label the length associated with the angle

Use sine rule or cosine rule

In trig questions it is important to identify all the triangles in the figure and draw the separately

  1. DEFG is a trapezium with DX a perpedicular line to GF. DE = 10cm, DG = 13cm, Angle EFX and DXF are right angles. Find the length DX. The area of the trapezium.
  2. ABC and PCD are right angle triangles. Angle ABC = 40 degrees, AB = 10 cm, PD = 8 cm and BD = 15cm. Angles BCA and DCP are right angles. Find the length BC the angle PDC.
  3. A plane takes off at an angle of elevation 17 degrees to the ground. After 25 seconds the plane has travelled a horizontal distance of 1400. Calculate the height of the plane above the ground after 25 seconds.
  4. STW is a triangle with the angle STW is 52 degrees. ST = 5cm, TW is 9cm. Calculate the lenght = SW and the area of triangle STW.

79 comments:

  1. I dont know how to solve the first question as i feel there is inadequate info given...for example an angle for the triangle DGX? please correct me if im wrong or if im missing something...but i dont know how to approach it...

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  2. also another length could be given for the same triangle...

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  3. question three:

    we have the angle 17 degrees and since the vertical height is wanted, we can say that the triangle is a right angled triangle. we can also now say that we know two angles,17 degrees and 90 degrees (the right angle) and can find the last angle :- 180 - (90 + 17) = 73 degrees.

    let the vertical height = x;

    using the sine rule:
    a/sinA = b/sinB = c/sinC;

    x/sin 17 = 1400/sin73

    x = (1400/sin73) x (sin17)
    x = 428.02 km

    therefore vertical height after 25 secs = 428.02 km

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  4. question four:

    is this a right angled triangle or not?

    assuming it is not:

    using cosine rule, a^2 = b^2 + c^2 - 2bc cosA;
    SW^2 = ST^2 + WT^2 - 2(ST)(WT) cos angle STW

    SW^2 = 5^2 + 9^2 - 2(5)(9)cos52
    = 25 + 81 - 90 cos 52
    = 106 - 90 cos 52
    SW^2 = 50.59
    SW = 7.11 cm

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  5. question four cont'd...

    WT is the length of the total base.
    in order to find the area of the triangle we need to find the height of the triangle.
    splitting the base in half, we now have a base of 4.5 cm and a hypothenus of 5 cm.
    now we can find the vertical height.

    let the height be equal to 'h';
    using Pythagoras' Theorem, a^2 = b^2 + c^2;
    5^2 = 4.5^2 + h^2
    25 = 20.25 + h^2
    h^2 = 25 - 20.25
    h^2 = 4.75
    h = 2.18 cm

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  6. question four cont'd...

    now we can find the area of the triangle.

    area of triangle = (base x height)/2
    = (9 x 2.18)/2
    area of triangle = 9.81 cm^2

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  7. hmmmm....isn't angles of elevation deals with right angle triangles....correct me if i am wrong bornagain 16..thanx

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  8. bornagain 16 u use the sine rule in number 3 and it deals with angle of elevation so if u can explain why you use the sine rule that will be nice. :)

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  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. 4)since the question did not mention the triangle beeing a right angle triangle.we assume the triangle to a non right angle triangle and use the cosine rule since we have two sides and a given angle.

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  11. 4) calculations

    using the cosine rule to caluclate the length of SW.rule is a^2=b^2+c^2-2ba cosine 52

    SW= 5^2+9^2-2(5)(9)cosine 52
    SW= 25+81-90*0.615
    SW=106-55.35
    SW=50.65
    SW=7.12 cm

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  12. 4)to calculate the area of the triangle use the formula 1/2 AB sin c

    area=1/2 AB sin c
    area= 1/2 (5)(7.12) sin 52
    area=1/2 35.6 *0.778
    area= 17.8 * 0.778
    area=14.03cm

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  13. bornagain16 first you assume that number 4 is not a right angle triangle but then to calculate the height you use phythagoras theorm..can you check it over please.thank you and tell me if i am goin correct because i getting a different answer to you. :)

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  14. yes thats true...i dont know how i ended up using the sine rule for that question. i even stated that it is a right angled triangle!!! thanks for showing me that XOXO S...

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  15. there is adequate information. remember a trapezium is made up of triangles and a square..so if u have a length of a square u can find the other lengths.all the lengths in a square are equal.

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  16. sure bornagain16 . always a pleasure..lolz :)

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  17. 1) length of DX is 10cm..DE is 10cm so therefore DX is 10 cm well.

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  18. for question 3 the information given is that the angle of elevation= 17, the horizontal distance of the plane in 25 seconds=1400, the vertical distance of the plane in 25 seconds= ?.

    since it is a right angled triangle the angles in the triangle add up to 180. therefore 180-(90+17)=73.
    we can use tan rule to solve this equation.
    tanᶿ= adj/opp
    tan17= h/1400
    1400tan17= h
    h=428.02

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  19. another method we can use is the sin rule:
    a/sinA= b/sinB= c/sinC
    1400/sin73= h/sin17
    cross multiply the equation to get:
    1400 sin17= h sin73
    1400 sin17/ sin73= h
    h= 428.02

    boom!!!! and there you have it..

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  20. let the height be equal to 'h';
    using Pythagoras' Theorem, a^2 = b^2 + c^2;
    5^2 = 4.5^2 + h^2
    25 = 20.25 + h^2
    h^2 = 25 - 20.25
    h^2 = 4.75
    h = 2.18 cm

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  21. yes you can also use sin as commented by hellomoto

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  22. (4) seeing that we have the sides ST= 5cm and TW= 9cm and the angle between them STW=52o, we can use cosine rule to find the area of the non- right angle triangle.

    cosine rule: c^2= a^2 + b^2 - 2(a)(b)cosC
    c^2= 5^2 + 9^2 - 2(5)(9)Cos52
    c^2= 25 + 81 -90 cos52
    c= √25 + 81 -90 cos52
    c=7.11
    therefore the length of SW= 7.11cm

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  23. Because triangle STW is not a right angled triangle its area can be found using the formula: 1/2absinC
    =1/2absinC
    =1/2 (5)(9)sin52
    =1/2 (45sin52)
    =1/2 (35.460)
    =17.73cm^2

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  24. 4)
    using cosine rule:

    known values:
    st=5cm
    tw=9cm
    angle stw=52 degrees

    cosine rule: a^2=b^2+c^2-2bc cos A
    SW^2 = 5^2 + 9^2 - 2(5)(9)cos52
    = 25 + 81 - 90 cos 52
    = 106 - 90 cos 52
    SW^2 = 50.59
    SW = 7.11 cm

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  25. 4)
    question did not state whether triangle was right angled or not...so i just assumed that it was not.in order to use the cos rule!!

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  26. 4)The question did not say if the triangle was a right angle triangle.I assumed the triangle to be a non right angle triangle and so I use the cosine rule since there is two sides and a given angle.

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  27. tw=9cm
    st=5cm
    angle stw=52 degrees

    using the cosine rule a^2 = b^2 + c^2 - 2bc cosA

    SW^2 = 5^2 + 9^2 - 2(5)(9)cos52
    = 25 + 81 - 90 cos 52
    = 106 - 90 cos 52
    SW^2 = 50.59
    SW = 7.11 cm

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  28. I agree with bornagain 16
    at least one more lenght or an angle is needed to solve question one

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  29. wow i tried sooooooo much with question 1 but damn its impossible to figure out...u really do need to get angle DGX or another length to figure this one out

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  30. hey XOXO S don't know if you know but well obviously you dont know...not all trapeziums are amde up of triangles with SQUARES...it can also be made up of triangles with RECTANGLES and somtimes even RHOMBUSES...cool huh???? lol

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  31. I've read through all the workings you guys did for #3 and they all have the same sine rule method! and someone else also used the tan rule to solve the problem...why????? this is a very very very simple problem, with an even simplier working....

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  32. This is how I would solve this problem here goes:
    The question says that the plane took off at an angle of elevation of 17degrees so all this means is that you have to draw the horizontal and then construct an angle of 17degrees to this horizontal. Then it states that after 25 secs. the plane travelled 1400 this would just be the hypotenuse in this problem, given this they want you to find the height of the plane above ground(horizontal), the height would be the opposite in this problem...

    From all of this the problem can be solved like this:
    sin@ = opp/hyp
    sin17= opp/1400
    opp = 1400sin17
    opp = 409.32

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  33. TRIG TEASER QUESTION
    For a right angle triangle if sinx = 3/4
    find lenght of all the sides and also the area. IT IS UNBELEIVABLY EASY GOOD LUCK!

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  34. Since two sides and an angle is included the you can use the cosine rule to solve #4

    a^2 = b^2 + c^2 - 2(b)(c)cosA
    a^2 = (5^2)+(9^2) - 2(5)(9)cos52
    a^2 = (25 + 81) - (90cos52)
    a^2 = 106 - 55.41
    a^2 = 50.59
    a = square root of 50.59
    a = 7.11

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  35. since the triangle is not right angle, the area can be found using the formula 1/2 absin@
    ie. 1/2(7.11)(5)sin52
    = 17.775sin52
    = 14.01

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  36. lol@ REAPER ok omg...i figured it out...since sinx = 3/4 it means that the hypotenuse is 4 and the opposite side is 3 since sinx = opp/hyp
    right??? lol and then using these sides the adjacent side can be found using Pythagoras' theorem ie. a^2 = b^2 + c^2 and the adjacent would work out to be 5
    a^2 = 4^2 + 3^2
    a^2 = 16 + 9
    a^2 = 25
    a = root 25
    a = 5
    now given all three sides and knowing that it is a right angle triangle the area can ba found using the formula 1/2bh
    ie. 1/2(5)(3)
    1/2(15)
    7.5

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  37. I have a question for you guys to try...its kinda challenging so if you think your good enough try it!!!!

    QUESTIIN:
    From point A, the angle of elevation to the top a tall building is 20 degrees. On walking 80 m towards the building the angle of elevation is now 23 degrees. How tall is the building?

    GOOD LUCK GUYS!!!!!

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  38. hey guys here's a kinda challenging question for the trigs loving bloggers.

    QUESTION:
    From point A, the angle of elevation to the top a tall building is 20 degrees. On walking 80 m towards the building the angle of elevation is now 23 degrees. How tall is the building?

    HAVE FUN AND GOOD LUCK!!!!!!111

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  39. ok i did the question already...but i need a way to draw diagrams here!!!i cant explain my method properly without diagrams...

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  40. 4. Seeing that you have two sides and the included angle, the cosine rule can be used to find the length.
    cosine rule: c^2= a^2 + b^2 - 2(a)(b)cosC
    c^2= 5^2 + 9^2 - 2(5)(9)Cos52
    c^2= 25 + 81 -90 cos52
    c= √25 + 81 -90 cos52
    c=7.1

    Length 7.1

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  41. OMG!!! SERIOUSLY DIAGRAMS WOULD HELP SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!! *SIGH* it would make explaining our methods sooo much easier.

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  42. trigs
    Find the values of
    a. sin(-30)
    b. sec(-150)
    c. cot(-300)

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  43. using the sin rule:
    a/sinA= b/sinB= c/sinC
    1400/sin73= h/sin17
    cross multiply the equation to get:
    1400 sin17= h sin73
    1400 sin17/ sin73= h
    h= 428.02

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  44. question 1 makes my brain scream, there should be more info.

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  45. for no. 3 i didnt use the sine rule cuz i think angles of elevation deals with right angles. i worked it noramal and got the same ans as born again.

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  46. my workin is
    tan@= opp/adj
    opp = tan@* adj
    = tan17 * 1400
    = 428.02
    therefore the height is 428.02
    please correct me if im incorrect

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  47. quetion 4.
    tw=9cm
    st=5cm
    angle stw=52 degrees

    using the cosine rule a^2 = b^2 + c^2 - 2bc cosA

    SW^2 = 5^2 + 9^2 - 2(5)(9)cos52
    = 25 + 81 - 90 cos 52
    = 106 - 90 cos 52
    SW^2 = 50.59
    SW = 7.11 cm

    correct me if i'm wrong!!!!

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  48. the use of diagrams would really make a difference!!!

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  49. the angle 17 degrees and since the vertical height is wanted, we can say that the triangle is a right angled triangle. we can also now say that we know two angles,17 degrees and 90 degrees (the right angle) and can find the last angle :- 180 - (90 + 17) = 73 degrees.

    let the vertical height = x;

    using the sine rule:
    a/sinA = b/sinB = c/sinC;

    x/sin 17 = 1400/sin73

    x = (1400/sin73) x (sin17)
    x = 428.02 km

    therefore vertical height after 25 secs = 428.02 km

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  50. 4)
    area=1/2 AB sin c
    area= 1/2 (5)(7.12) sin 52
    area=1/2 35.6 *0.778
    area= 17.8 * 0.778
    area=14.03cm

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  51. tw=9cm
    st=5cm
    angle stw=52 degrees

    using the cosine rule a^2 = b^2 + c^2 - 2bc cosA

    SW^2 = 5^2 + 9^2 - 2(5)(9)cos52
    = 25 + 81 - 90 cos 52
    = 106 - 90 cos 52
    SW^2 = 50.59
    SW = 7.11 cm

    ReplyDelete
  52. area of triangle stw is.......
    =1/2absinC
    =1/2 (5)(9)sin52
    =1/2 (45sin52)
    =1/2 (35.460)
    =17.73cm^2

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  53. no. 3 let x be the height of the plane
    using the sine rule:
    a/sinA = b/sinB = c/sinC;

    x/sin 17 = 1400/sin73

    x = (1400/sin73) x (sin17)
    x = 428.02 km

    therefore vertical height after 25 secs = 428.02 km

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  54. Question 3
    we have the angle 17 degrees and since the vertical height is wanted, we can say that the triangle is a right angled triangle. we can also now say that we know two angles,17 degrees and 90 degrees (the right angle) and can find the last angle :- 180 - (90 + 17) = 73 degrees.

    let the vertical height = x;

    using the sine rule:
    a/sinA = b/sinB = c/sinC;

    x/sin 17 = 1400/sin73

    x = (1400/sin73) x (sin17)
    x = 428.02 km

    vertical height after 25 secs = 428.02 km

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  55. let the height be equal to 'h';
    using Pythagoras' Theorem, a^2 = b^2 + c^2;
    5^2 = 4.5^2 + h^2
    25 = 20.25 + h^2
    h^2 = 25 - 20.25
    h^2 = 4.75
    h = 2.18 cm

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  56. we have the angle 17 degrees and since the vertical height is wanted, we can say that the triangle is a right angled triangle. we can also now say that we know two angles,17 degrees and 90 degrees (the right angle) and can find the last angle :- 180 - (90 + 17) = 73 degrees.

    let the vertical height = x;

    using the sine rule:
    a/sinA = b/sinB = c/sinC;

    x/sin 17 = 1400/sin73

    x = (1400/sin73) x (sin17)
    x = 428.02 km

    vertical height after 25 secs = 428.02 km

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  57. 4.a^2 = b^2 + c^2 - 2(b)(c)cosA
    a^2 = (5^2)+(9^2) - 2(5)(9)cos52
    a^2 = (25 + 81) - (90cos52)
    a^2 = 106 - 55.41
    a^2 = 50.59
    a = square root of 50.59
    a = 7.11

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  58. Because triangle STW is not a right angled triangle its area can be found using the formula: 1/2absinC
    =1/2absinC
    =1/2 (5)(9)sin52
    =1/2 (45sin52)
    =1/2 (35.460)
    =17.73cm^2

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  59. i always seem to get confused between the adjacent side and the opposite sides on a triangle.

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  60. The opposite side is the side that is directly opposite the angle you are taking into consideration.
    then there's the hypotenus which is the longest side
    and the remaining sise is the adjacent side

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  61. 4). STW= 52 degrees
    ST= 5 cm
    TW= 9 cm

    using the cosine rule you could find SW

    SW^2=TW^2+ST^2-2(ST)(TW)COS T
    SW^2=9^2+5^2-2(5)(9)COS 52
    SW^2=106-55.41
    SW^2=50.59
    SW=SQRT50.59
    SW=7.11

    to find the area of the triangle you have to use HERON'S FORMULA

    i.e. A=sqrts(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)
    and s=semiperimeter
    s=a+b+c/2

    s=5+9+7.11/2=10.56

    A=sqrt10.56(10.56-5)(10.56-9)(10.56-7.11)
    A=sqrt10.56(5.56)(1.56)(3.45)
    A=sqrt315.997
    A=17.78 cm^2

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  62. 3). using tan you could find the height the plane was travelling.

    tan angle= o/a
    tan17=o/1400
    o=tan17*1400
    o=428.02

    the height the plane was travelling at is 428.02.

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  63. 2). BCA AND PCD IS RIGHT ANGLES
    BA=10 cm
    DP=8 cm
    BD=15 cm

    to find BC you have to use the sin angle=o/h

    sin50=o/10
    o=sin50*10
    o= 7.60cm

    so therefore BC is 7.66cm

    NEED SOME HELP TO FIND THE ANGLE PDC.
    (MISS,ANYONE)

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  64. PLEASE HELP…………………IS THIS POSSIBLE???

    From a point 435 feet from the base of a building it is observed that the angle of elevation to the top of the building is 24° and the angle of elevation to the top of a flag pole on top the building is 27°.

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  65. PLEASE HELP…………………IS THIS POSSIBLE???
    I am 10 feet away from a man lift that holds the worker repairing the electricity poll. My angle of elevation is 50 degrees my eyes are 5 feet from the ground and the man lift is 30 feet. How tall is the worker?

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  66. HOW TO WORK THIS???
    y = 3x , between x = 0 , and x= 3, for
    a) n =3 (∆x = 1) , (b) n = 10 (∆x = 0.3)

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  67. Reaper's trig teaser question:
    sinx=3/4
    sinx=opp/hyp
    therefore opp=3 (side b) and hyp=4 (side c)
    pythagoras' theorem states a^2+b^2=c^2
    a^2+3^2=4^2
    a^2=4^2-3^2
    =16-9=7
    a=root of 7=2.65

    area of tri. =1/2 (b*h)
    =1/2 (2.65*3)=3.98

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  68. #2
    cos=adj/hyp
    cos40=adj/10
    .766=adj/10
    adj=.766(10)
    BC=7.6

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  69. #2
    sin40=opp/hyp
    .643=opp/10
    opp=.643(10)
    AC=6.4

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  70. #2
    sin tata=opp/hyp
    sin tata=6.4/8
    tata=(0.8)-sin
    angle D=53degre

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  71. #3
    tan17=opp/adj
    opp=(1400)tan17
    opp=(1400)86.6
    opp=428.02

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  72. #4
    SW=the squar root of 9^2-5^2
    SW=the squar root of 81-25
    SW=7.48

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  73. me no figure out question one!!!!! lolz

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  74. assuming our diagram is a right angled triangle
    180-(90 + 17) = 73 degrees.(for our 3rd angle)

    let the vertical height = x;

    using the sine rule:
    a/sinA = b/sinB = c/sinC;

    x/sin 17 = 1400/sin73
    x = (1400/sin73) x (sin17)
    x = 428.02 km

    vertical height after 25 secs = 428.02 km

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  75. no3.
    tan = opp/adj
    tan17= x/1400
    1400tan17=x
    x= 428
    height of plane after 25 sec is 428

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