In the triangle below, is there a way to calculate the $x$ and $y$?
To be more specific, $b = 12.8\rm\,cm\ $ and $h = 10\rm\,cm$, hence $a = 11.87\rm\,cm$.
I don't know what to do from here.
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$\begingroup$ Can you use trigonometry? $\endgroup$– DonAntonioJun 4, 2014 at 20:05
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$\begingroup$ @DonAntonio sure, though my knowledge of trigonometry is limited. $\endgroup$– akinuriJun 4, 2014 at 20:35
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$\begingroup$ Well, then you have several answers, all of them related to trigonometry, the only way I know (and, perhaps, there exists) to solve problems like this one. $\endgroup$– DonAntonioJun 4, 2014 at 20:37
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4 Answers
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If $h$ bisects angle $x^\circ$ (hope it does!), then we can apply right-angle trigonometry: \begin{align} \sin y^\circ&= \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}}=\frac{h}{a}=\frac{10}{11.87}=0.842 \\ y^\circ&=\sin^{-1}(0.842) \\ y^\circ &\approx \boxed{57.4^\circ} \end{align} As the sum of all angles in a triangle is $180^\circ$, \begin{align} x^\circ+y^\circ+y^\circ&=180^\circ \\ x^\circ+(57.4)^\circ+(57.4)^\circ&=180^\circ \\ x^\circ&\approx\boxed{65.2^\circ} \end{align}
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$\begingroup$ Speaking of that, I just fixed a mistake in my answer. I used $a=12.8$ previously, but it's supposed to be $a=11.87$... :O $\endgroup$– CookieJun 6, 2014 at 17:05
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Note that the upper half of the diagram is a right triangle, so $\tan \frac x2=\frac b{2a}$
answered Jun 4, 2014 at 20:09
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$\begingroup$ That's assuming (1) $\;h\;$ is the triangle's median to its base, and perhaps more important (2) the OP can use trigonometry. Of course, without trigonometry I don't know how to solve this... $\endgroup$ Jun 4, 2014 at 20:12
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$\begingroup$ @DonAntonio: that is true. I don't know how without trig, either. $\endgroup$ Jun 4, 2014 at 20:17
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Well, heres a few hints:
*The height of a isoceles triangle to its base is also the median of its base.
*The tangent of an angle of a right angled triangle is the ratio of the length of the cathetus opposite the angle to the cathetus adjacent to the angle.
*the arctangent function returns an angle given its tangent.
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Law of cosines will work to find the angles:
$c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2abcos(C)$, where C is the angle opposite to side c
So $b^2 = 2a^2 - 2a^2cos(X)$ and $a^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2abcos(Y)$
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$\begingroup$ The OP clearly does not know where to start and presumably does not know/can not remember the cosine law. I suggest you elaborate on the solution you have in mind. $\endgroup$ Jun 4, 2014 at 20:40
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$\begingroup$ Sorry...I am new and wasn't confident enough with LaTeX to try to write in the equation $\endgroup$ Jun 5, 2014 at 22:45