If there is a right triangle ABC with C as the right angle and point D on side AC, can you figure out length DC if you know the lengths of AD, BD, and AB?
2006-12-23 04:17:12 · 3 answers · asked by merviedz trespassers 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
90 degrees all
2006-12-23 06:01:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. It would be a triangle inside another triangle. First get the triangle ABC by using trig functions to find the angles and then complete the ABC right triangle. Then Pythagorean theorem to find values. You can find the value of CD by subtracting AC-AD.
2006-12-23 12:23:07 · answer #2 · answered by Sergio__ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will first need to use Law of Cosines
(BD)^2 = (AD)^2 + (AB)^2 - 2(AD * AB)cos(A)
cos(A) = ((BD)^2 - (AD)^2 - (AB)^2)/(-2(AD * AB))
A = cos^-1(((BD)^2 - (AD)^2 - (AB)^2)/(-2(AD * AB)))
Now that you have A
tan(A) = (BC)/(AC)
AC = (BC)/(tan(A))
Now take the value of AC and subtract it from AD, and you will get DC.
There are probably other or easier ways to do that, but that how i did it.
2006-12-23 21:24:47 · answer #3 · answered by Sherman81 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋