Basic Trigonometry Problem

tntcoder · 23 May 2007 at 14:25

Hey guys,

Just going over an old exam paper, and theres a basic trig question which i really cant remember how to do, basically just working out the length of a side and an angle :rolleyes:

I was given the 2 sides, and the 28 degrees angle. I worked out the other angle by 90 - 45 = 17 degrees, which i think is correct? Then as you can see I used both Pythagoras and trig to work out the side a, which didn't work as they both give different values. Any ideas on what ive done wrong :rolleyes:

Thanks
Jack

tntcoder · 23 May 2007 at 14:30

Ok thanks, fixed that one, but my calculations are independent of that angle? So 17 should = 62

tntcoder · 23 May 2007 at 14:42

! i did this at GCSE, but there is a maths module i have had to do for my first year of uni. I havnt done this stuff for a few years.

I still cant see why the pythag and trig give different results, when using the given angle of 28 in sin.

tntcoder · 23 May 2007 at 14:46

It is a right angle triangle though? Heres a direct copy of the exam question

Are you saying those values dont work at all?

tntcoder · 23 May 2007 at 15:02

Hmm thanks a lot guys, didnt know there was an error in the question :rolleyes:

, I understand the theory anyway, just didnt get why the trig wasnt working.

tntcoder · 23 May 2007 at 15:05

No its just last years past paper, theres only 1 question on basic trig, so i wont worry too much about it and will get on to the harder matrix and vector work.