A right triangle has side lengths 8, 15, and 17 as shown below.Use these lengths to find cosB, sinB, and tanB.
Question
A right triangle has side lengths 8, 15, and 17 as shown below. Use these lengths to find , , and .
Solution
In a right triangle, the cosine (cos), sine (sin), and tangent (tan) of an angle can be found using the lengths of the sides of the triangle.
Let's assume that B is the angle opposite the side with length 15.
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Cosine of B (cosB) is defined as the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse. In this case, the adjacent side is 8 and the hypotenuse is 17. So, cosB = 8/17.
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Sine of B (sinB) is defined as the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse. In this case, the opposite side is 15 and the hypotenuse is 17. So, sinB = 15/17.
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Tangent of B (tanB) is defined as the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side. In this case, the opposite side is 15 and the adjacent side is 8. So, tanB = 15/8.
So, cosB = 8/17, sinB = 15/17, and tanB = 15/8.
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