How do you solve the triangle if it has hypotenuse 18, the opposite angle is the height, and the adjacent meets the hypotenuse at a 35 degree angle?

2 Answers
Jun 8, 2015

Assuming you meant "the opposite side is the height"

If we label the triangle #ABC# with
#/_A = 35^@#
and
#/_B=90^@#

then
#/_C = 55^@#

Given #c=18# (#c# being the side opposite #/_C#)

then we can use the Law of Sines:
#color(white)("XXXX")##(sin C)/c = (sin A)/a = (sin B)/b#
and since our only missing values are #a# and #b#
the results can easily be calculated (with a calculator or with spreadsheet operations)

Jun 8, 2015

C = 90; B = 35; and A = 90 - 35 = 55 deg; hypotenuse = 18

Side CB = AB.cos 35 = 18.cos 35 = 18(0.82) = 14.75

The height, or side AC = 18.sin 35 = 18(0.57) = 10.32

Check: a^2 = b^2 + c^2

324 = 217.56 + 106.50 = 324.06 . OK