Question

Triangle XYZ, XY= 80, ZY= 64 XZ= 48 what is the cosine

Answer 1

`cos=(4)/(5)`

Explanation:

Cosine is the adjacent side over the hypotenuse (You can remember sin, cos, and tan by using sohcahtoa or sin = opposite/hypotenuse, cos = adjacent/hypotenuse, tan = opposite over adjacent). I think a picture would help, too.

I attached a picture of what I think the triangle would look like.

If the picture is right (we're assuming it is) and going with what we're given (the triangle was addressed as triangle XYZ, meaning that angle Y is in the middle and that's the one we'll use).

Looking at my picture then:

`cos=(64)/(80) \\cos=(8)/(10) \\cos=(4)/(5)` .