Question in-abo

4.2 Right Triangles & Trigonometry - Trig ratios (sin, cos, tan) in right triangles
0:00
The figure presents triangle A, B C, where side A, C is horizontal and point B is above side A, C. Point D lies on side A, C, and line segment B D is drawn, forming right angle B D C. Side B C is labeled 12. Angle A, B D is labeled 30 degrees and angle B C D is labeled 60 degrees.

In triangle A, B C above, what is the length of  segment A, D?

A.

4

B.

6

C.

6 times the square root of 2

D.

6 times the square root of 3

In above, what is the length of ?

Medium-difficulty · SAT Math · Right Triangles & Trigonometry — Trig ratios (sin, cos, tan) in right triangles. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.

Answer explanation

Choice B is correct. Triangles ADB and CDB are both 30 degree 60 degree 90 degree triangles and share side B D . Therefore, triangles ADB and CDB are congruent by the angle-side-angle postulate. Using the properties of 30 degree 60 degree 90 degree triangles, the length of side A, D is half the length of hypotenuse A, B . Since the triangles are congruent, the length of side A, B equals the length of side B C, which equals 12. So the length of side A, D is twelve halves equals 6.

Alternate approach: Since angle CBD has a measure of 30 degrees, angle ABC must have a measure of 60 degrees. It follows that triangle ABC is equilateral, so side AC also has length 12. It also follows that the altitude BD is also a median, and therefore the length of AD is half of the length of AC, which is 6.

Choice A is incorrect. If the length of side A, D were 4, then the length of side A, B would be 8. However, this is incorrect because side A, B is congruent to side B C, which has a length of 12. Choices C and D are also incorrect. Following the same procedures as used to test choice A gives side A, B a length of 12 times the square root of 2 for choice C and 12 times the square root of 3 for choice D. However, these results cannot be true because side A, B is congruent to side B C, which has a length of 12.