Question

Please help me !! Find the missing length indicated.

Answer 1

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

use the law of Cosines so that you can solve a SSS triangle

Cos(C) = $a^{2}$ + $b^{2}$ - $c^{2}$  / 2ab

c is the side of 24 for our triangle and angle C is the top one in the picture.

C = arcCos ( $a^{2}$ + $b^{2}$ - $c^{2}$  / 2ab )

C = arcCos ( -32 / 480 )

C = 93.82255373 °

the angles at the top are each half of that or 46.91127 °

let's solve another angle for the big triangle now let's go for the one on the left and call it A

Cos(A) = $c^{2}$ + $b^{2}$ - $a^{2}$  / 2bc   where a = 20

A = arcCos( $c^{2}$ + $b^{2}$ - $a^{2}$  / 2bc)

A = arcCos( $24^{2}$ + $12^{2}$ - $20^{2}$ / 2*12*24

A = arcCos(320 / 576)

A = 56.2510 °

then angle B is  180 =93.823 + 56.251 + B

29.926 ° = B

so now we know all 3 angles.. seems like a lot of work , huh  :D

for the triangle with the question mark we now know two angles and the Hyp, so let's use Law of Sines to find that last side  :)

Sin(A)/a = Sin(B) /b  where A can be the angle at the top and B can be the angle at the base. which we have to find still  :/  

it's 180 = 46.9112 + 29.926 + B

103.162 = B

Sin(46.91127 ) / a = Sin(103.162) /20

Sin(46.91127 ) * 20 / Sin(103.162) = a

14.99998 = a    I feel confident this is supposed to be 15 and I have a tiny bit of rounding error..

? = 15   there you go  

your answer is 15