Using sin to find an unknown angle?

Question

So here's the question...

The lengths of the hypotenuse and one leg of a right triangle are 10.5 and 3.7, respectively. Find the measure of the angle opposite the leg whose length is unknown.

The answer is 20.63 deg, however I can't reach that answer. Here's my work so far:

sin = opp/hyp
sinx=3.7/10.5
sinx=.35238

So this is in radians now right, so convert to degrees...

.35238 (180/pi)=20.18

Ummmm, what now? >.>

I think I messed up somewhere!

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

Your error is in assuming that you need to translate from degrees to radians.

sinx = .35238
x = 20.63 degrees