Help with math (Full Version)

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Karaboo2 -> Help with math (5/5/2008 5:16:47 PM)

Okay ... my pregnant brain is officially mush. My friend called asking for help with a math problem, and I was at a total loss (which is pathetic, as math was one of my strongest subjects in school) She is 40, and needs this math course to get into an apprenticeship program at the college (she lost her job when there was a company shut down, and is trying to retrain)

So .. here's the question ... can somebody walk me through it so I can pass the info onto her?? Thanks!

Start off with a scalene triangle.

Angle A is 42'
Side AB is 9
Side AC is 5.4
Find the length of side a.

Thanks!!!



creationtalk -> RE: Help with math (5/5/2008 10:29:25 PM)

Use the law of cosines to solve this one:

a^2 = b^2 + c^2 - 2bc cosA

where: a is the side opposite angle A, b is the side opposite angle B (aka side AC), and c is the side opposite angle C (aka side AB). ^2 implies "squared"


One suggestion for your friend in her class: if it is a class like geometry or math based science class like physics or chemistry, there are equations to follow. When given a problem, write down all the equations that include the things that were given and equations that include what needs to be found... then see if she can identify anything that is "missing" between the given information and the needed information and use the equations to connect them.



Karaboo2 -> RE: Help with math (5/6/2008 8:35:06 AM)

Yeah ... once I looked at the problem in her set of worksheets, it all started coming back to me. It was just when she was reading it over the phone that I drew a total blank.

Thanks!



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