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High School Math Help

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December 19, 2018, 09:54 PM
zipriderson
High School Math Help
3^2 = 1^2 + 2^2 - 2(1)(2)CosB

I guess we're solving for angle B. I think we can easily reduce to -1 = CosB. So how do you solve for B? Calculator? How?
December 19, 2018, 10:01 PM
Crom
B is pi radians or 180 degrees


"Crom is strong! If I die, I have to go before him, and he will ask me, 'What is the riddle of steel?' If I don't know it, he will cast me out of Valhalla and laugh at me."
December 19, 2018, 10:01 PM
zipriderson
Thanks Crom.
December 19, 2018, 10:05 PM
Kranky
Have you tried to look at it graphically? Represent cos(x) as a graph?
You can see that Cos(x)= -1 at -Pi or -180 degrees.


-k
December 19, 2018, 10:05 PM
Gene Hillman
My lovely wife says you can use the unit circle to find the answer or you can find the inverse cosine of -1 using your calculator.
December 20, 2018, 06:00 AM
irreverent
I broke a sweat just reading the question.


__________________________

"Trust, but verify."
December 20, 2018, 08:02 AM
snidera
Cos^-1 is a function on most scientific calculators, defiantly on graphing calculators.

realcalc for android is what I use anymore -no idea where my Ti89 got off to.
shft+cos is the cos^-1 button on it.
December 20, 2018, 08:03 AM
JimTheo
I don't even know what button to press om my watch calculator for this.



I should be tall and rich too; That ain't gonna happen either