3 students were asked to find the value of x in the figure.The equations they used are shown at right.Which students if any used a correct equation?

Question

Explain how you could fix the errors students made find the value of X

Lee's equation : sin 57 =x/15                           
Jamila's equation : cos 33 = 15/x                      <p = 57  <m=90 right triangle   
Tyler's equation: sin 33= x/15                                                                               
                                                                                                                              
    m _____15___n
      |_|              /
      |              /                                                                                                                   
      |          /   X
      |       / 
      |57 /
      |  /
     p 

Answer 1

Jamila is correct. She noticed that ∠n measures 33º and then applied cosine defined as adjacent/hypotenuse to get cos 33º = 15/x.

Lee and Tyler needed to use sin 57º = 15/x.

 

Answer 2

sin 57 = 15/x, Lee is wrong.

cos 33 = 33/x, Jamila is wrong.

sin 33 = leg / x, Tyler is wrong.

 

You could use either of the first two equations above.