Question

Jeremy finds a set of plans to build a model airplane. Most, but not all, of the lengths given in the plans are direct measurements. According to the plans, each horizontal stabilizer of the tail wing is made from a right triangle. The length of the leg of the triangle that touches the plane is AB = 8 inches, and cosA=817. To find the number of inches each horizontal stabilizer extends from the plane, find BC.

Answer 1

The answer is 15.

If given the cos A = 8/17
8 is the side containing angle A, 17 is the hypotenuse. Using either Pythagoras or knowing Right Triangle triples you get 15

hope this helps