Solving for a Side

Objective

• Given one side and one acute angle of a right triangle, I can solve for another unknown side

Steps to setting up and solving Trigonometric Equations

1) Identify the reference angle.

2) Label only the sides given and asked for as (O, A, or H).

3) Choose the correct trig. equation to set up according to your labels in 2).

4) Solve the equation using inverse operations:

♦ If x is high, just multiply.

♦ If x is low, divide by the trig operation below.

♦ If you need the angle though, just trig inverse the ratio... (we'll do that tomorrow.)