What is the length of x?

If angle = 50 degrees, hypotenuse = x, adjacent side = 5 cm, opposite side = 7 cm, and is a right angled triangle,Use cos(theta)=adjacent/hypotenuseSo, cos(50) = 5/xrearranging the equation to make x the subject you must times both sides by xxcos(50) = 5x/xxcos(50) = 5Now you must divide both sides by cos(50):(xcos(50))/cos(50) = 5/cos(50)x = 5/cos(50)Now type this in the calculator and you should get:x = 5.2 to one decimal place

MN
Answered by Madison N. Maths tutor

3088 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Solve the simultaneous equation: 2x - 5y = 9 , x + 6y = -4


solve the simultaneous equations x^2 + y^2 = 5 and 3x+1=y


Ian earns £420 a week after a 5% rise. What was his pay before?


Frank buys a car at the start of 2015, for £12,000. Each year the value fo the car depreciates by 9%. What was the value of the car at the end of 2019?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning