If sin A = 3/5, what is sec A?

1 Answer
Nov 24, 2014

Let {(mathbf{A} ... "Adjacent"),(mathbf{H} ... "Hypotenuse"),(mathbf{O} ... "Opposite"):}

Given:
sin A=3/5={mathbf{O}}/{mathbf{H}} => " Let " {(mathbf{O}=3),(mathbf{H}=5):}

By Pythagorean Theorem,

mathbf{A}=sqrt{mathbf{H}^2-mathbf{O}^2}=sqrt{5^2-3^2}=sqrt{16}=4

Hence,

sec A=mathbf{H}/mathbf{A}=5/4


I hope that this was helpful.