High School Math : Right Triangles

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Triangles

Rt_triangle_lettersIn this figure, side , and . What is the value of angle ?

Possible Answers:

Undefined

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since , we know we are working with a right triangle.

That means that .

In this problem, that would be:

Plug in our given values:

Example Question #2 : Triangles

Let ABC be a right triangle with sides  = 3 inches,  = 4 inches, and  = 5 inches. In degrees, what is the  where  is the angle opposite of side ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

3-4-5_triangle

We are looking for . Remember the definition of  in a right triangle is the length of the opposite side divided by the length of the hypotenuse. 

So therefore, without figuring out  we can find

Example Question #1 : Trigonometric Functions

Rt_triangle_letters

In this figure, if angle , side , and side , what is the measure of angle ?

Possible Answers:

Undefined

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since , we know we are working with a right triangle.

That means that .

In this problem, that would be:

Plug in our given values:

Example Question #3 : Triangles

Rt_triangle_letters

In this figure, , and . What is the value of angle ?

Possible Answers:

Undefined

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Notice that these sides fit the pattern of a 30:60:90 right triangle: .

In this case, .

Since angle  is opposite , it must be .

Example Question #4 : Triangles

A triangle has angles of . If the side opposite the angle is , what is the length of the side opposite ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The pattern for is that the sides will be .

If the side opposite is , then the side opposite will be .

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