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It depends on what else you know. If it is a non-right triangle, and you only know angle a, it is impossible to fing side A (the side opposite an angle usually has the same letter, but capitalized). If you know the other two sides, then I would use the law of cosines: For a triangle with sides A B C A = √(B2+C2-(2*B*C*(cos (a)))) If you know another angle and one side, I would use the law sines: A/(sin a) = B/(sin b) therefore, A = (sin a) * B/(sin b) If it is a right triangle, and you know another side, than your job is even easier: If you know the hypotenuse (side C), than: A = C *(sin a) If you know the adjacent side (side B), than: A = B * (tan a)

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Q: Find the length of the side opposite angle a?
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Continue Learning about Trigonometry

How do you calculate tangent of an angle?

the tangent of an angle is equal to the length of the opposite side from the angle divided by the length of the side adjacent to the angle.


What is the ratios function of sin?

The sine of an angle in a right triangle is the ratio of the length of the side opposite the angle to the length of the hypotenuse.In terms of ratios, the sine of an angle is defined, in a right angled triangle, as the ratio of lengths of the opposite side to the hypotenuse.


How do you find the angle measurements of a triangle if you have all the side lengths- which SOH CAH TOA do i use?

with all the sides, you could use any, use SOH :( sin of angle = opposite / hypotonuse)assuming its a right angle triangle, then select either of the (non right angle) angles, divide the length of the side opposite this angle by the length of the hypotonuse ( longest side, opposite the right angle), then find the inverse SIN of this number on your calculator, this is the angle. Since total internal angles always = 180 degrees, and right angle = 90 degrees then final angle is calculated angle subtracted from 90 degrees.


How do you work out a right angle triangle where you know the opposite side and the adjacent side to get the opposite angle?

The ratio of the opposite side over the adjacent side is called the tangent.Expressing the fraction (opposite/adjacent) as a decimal, you can find the angle by looking in a table of values for the tangents of various angles.


Is theta similar to 'x'?

it depends...theta:theta is usually the letter given to any angle in the triangle (the letter theta is from the greek alphabet). usually in trigonometry you would use it when using SOHCAHTOA (sin=opposite/hypotenuse; cos=adjacent/hypotenuse; tan=opposite/adjacent) e.g. the sun is at an angle of 30°. if the shadow's length is 40m, find the length of the flagpole.tan30=h/40tanθ=opp/adj40xtan30=hh=23.09m-'opposite' (opp)is the opposite side from the angle you are trying to find out-'adjacent' (adj)is the side next to the angle you are trying to find out-'hypotenuse' (hyp)is also next to the angle you are trying to find out, but it is also opposite the right angle and it is the longest sidex:'x' is usually used to represent a length (either the base, height or hypotenuse). using SOHCAHTOA it would be either the opposite, adjacent or hypotenuse. using the example above x could substitute hthe difference is that theta is used for the angles and x is for the other measurements(length or distance). i don't think that there similar but thats just me...