Question

In triangle XYZ, angle X measures 45 degrees, side y is 8 units, and side z is 6 units. Use the Law of Cosines to find the measure of angle Y.

Ask by Haynes Rowe. in South Africa
Feb 03,2025

Real Tutor Solution

Tutor-Verified Answer

Answer

Angle \( Y \) is approximately 86.5 degrees.

Solution

To find the measure of angle \( Y \) in triangle \( XYZ \) using the Law of Cosines, let's follow these steps: ### Given: - Angle \( X = 45^\circ \) - Side \( y = 8 \) units (opposite angle \( Y \)) - Side \( z = 6 \) units (opposite angle \( Z \)) ### Step 1: Apply the Law of Cosines to Find Side \( x \) The Law of Cosines states: \[ x^2 = y^2 + z^2 - 2yz \cos(X) \] Plugging in the known values: \[ x^2 = 8^2 + 6^2 - 2 \times 8 \times 6 \times \cos(45^\circ) \] \[ x^2 = 64 + 36 - 96 \times \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \] \[ x^2 = 100 - 48\sqrt{2} \] \[ x = \sqrt{100 - 48\sqrt{2}} \approx 5.67 \text{ units} \] ### Step 2: Use the Law of Cosines to Find Angle \( Y \) Now, apply the Law of Cosines to angle \( Y \): \[ y^2 = x^2 + z^2 - 2xz \cos(Y) \] Rearranging for \( \cos(Y) \): \[ \cos(Y) = \frac{x^2 + z^2 - y^2}{2xz} \] \[ \cos(Y) = \frac{(100 - 48\sqrt{2}) + 36 - 64}{2 \times \sqrt{100 - 48\sqrt{2}} \times 6} \] \[ \cos(Y) = \frac{72 - 48\sqrt{2}}{12 \sqrt{100 - 48\sqrt{2}}} \] \[ \cos(Y) \approx \frac{0.343}{5.67} \approx 0.0605 \] ### Step 3: Calculate Angle \( Y \) Using the inverse cosine function: \[ Y = \cos^{-1}(0.0605) \approx 86.5^\circ \] ### Final Answer: The measure of angle \( Y \) is approximately **86.5 degrees**.

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The Deep Dive

To find the measure of angle Y in triangle XYZ using the Law of Cosines, we can start with the formula: \[ c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab \cdot \cos(C) \] In this formula, we can designate side lengths as follows: - \( a = y = 8 \) (opposite angle Y) - \( b = z = 6 \) (opposite angle Z) - \( C = X = 45^\circ \) (the angle we already know) - \( c = XY \) (the side opposite angle X, which we need to calculate first). Using the Law of Cosines, we can rearrange the formula to find side c: \[ c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab \cdot \cos(X) \] \[ c^2 = 8^2 + 6^2 - 2 \cdot 8 \cdot 6 \cdot \cos(45^\circ) \] Calculating each component: \[ c^2 = 64 + 36 - 2 \cdot 8 \cdot 6 \cdot \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \] \[ c^2 = 100 - 48\sqrt{2} \] Now, we can find angle Y using the Law of Cosines again: \[ y^2 = x^2 + c^2 - 2xc \cdot \cos(Y) \] Substituting the known values, we can then isolate \( \cos(Y) \). After calculating, we will find: 1. Compute \( c = \sqrt{100 - 48\sqrt{2}} \). 2. Set up the equation to solve for \( \cos(Y) \): \[ 8^2 = 6^2 + c^2 - 2 \cdot 6 \cdot c \cdot \cos(Y) \] This will lead us to the final calculation for angle Y! Upon solving, we find that the measure of angle Y is approximately \( 63.43^\circ \).

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