Question Bank / Math / Right Triangles and Trigonometry

Right triangles and trigonometry SAT question

Math · Geometry and Trigonometry · Hard · Answer it here, explanation included.

Triangle is similar to triangle , where angle corresponds to angle and angle corresponds to angle .  Angles and are right angles. If , what is the value of  ?

Enter a number or fraction (like 3/17 or 0.176). Press Enter to check.

ExplanationShow

The correct answer is . It's given that triangle is similar to triangle , where angle corresponds to angle and angle corresponds to angle . In similar triangles, the tangents of corresponding angles are equal. Since angle and angle are corresponding angles, if , then . It's also given that angles and are right angles. It follows that triangle is a right triangle with acute angles and . The tangent of one acute angle in a right triangle is the inverse of the tangent of the other acute angle in the triangle. Therefore, . Substituting for  in this equation yields , or . Thus, if , the value of  is . Note that 7/50 and .14 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Drill this skill on Aceit

Adaptive practice, a daily plan, and score tracking take a free account so we can save your work.

Practice this skill

More Right triangles and trigonometry questions