Answer by daSVgrouch
you do not provide enough information
How to solve a right triangle with only the hypotenuse?
Question by Shannan: How to solve a right triangle with only the hypotenuse?
I need to solve a right triangle for the base and altitude. The only information given is that the hypotenuse is 37 inches. If you could please either give me a formula to use or work me through it, I'd appreciate it! I don't think I can solve using basic trig (SOHCAHTOA) or law of sines or law of cosines.
Thanks for your help!
Best answer:
Well you are going to need another angle or side for this to work…. You know one angle and one side for sure, because it is a right triangle it has a 90 degree angle. Using the law of sines you have
Sin (90) / 37 inches = (Sin (another angle) / The side opposite of this angle)
Think of it this way, you have a 37 inch stick leaning up against the wall, there is always going to be a 90 degree angle between the wall and the ground, but depending on what angle the stick is leaning up against the wall, you could have many different lengths of the other sides.
yea i think you need more info, if you have polar cooridinates, just do 37sin of the angle to get the shorter leg, if its an isoscles triange, you could do 37^2=x^2+x^2, then solve for x
1369=2x^2
square root of (1369/2)=x, idk this is the best i cn do