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Geometry And Trigonometry · Right Triangle Trigonometry Sine Cosine Tangent

SAT Right Triangle Trigonometry Sine Cosine Tangent Practice Questions (Free + Explanations) | Quiz 7

Question 12345 of 5

Question 1 of 5

In right triangle , the right angle is at . A point lies on side such that is perpendicular to . The lengths satisfy and . What is the value of ?

Explanation

Since is right at and is an altitude to the hypotenuse , the altitude theorem applies. First, find the hypotenuse: . Then

so . In the two smaller right triangles, angle is the same as in , so

Similarly, angle is the same as in , so

Therefore,

So the correct answer is .

Concept summary

When an altitude is drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle, it creates two similar right triangles and satisfies . Those smaller triangles can be used to compute trigonometric ratios for the original acute angles.

Question 2 of 5

A drone is launched from point on level ground and travels in a straight line to point at a constant angle of elevation. From point , which is 120 meters closer to the point directly below than is, the angle of elevation to is measured. The table shows the measured angles.

What is the height of point above the ground, in meters?

Explanation

Let be the horizontal distance from point to the point on the ground directly below , and let be the height of above the ground.

From point , the angle of elevation is , so

which means

Point is 120 meters farther from the point directly below than point , so the horizontal distance from is .

From point , the angle of elevation is , so

Substitute :

Multiply both sides by :

Now solve:

Rationalize the denominator:

Since , the height is

Concept summary

Use tangent to relate angle of elevation, height, and horizontal distance. When two observation points view the same object, set up two tangent equations with related horizontal distances and solve the system.

Question 3 of 5

In a right triangle, the two legs have lengths and , and one acute angle is . It is known that and that the area of the triangle is . Which of the following must be true about the hypotenuse of the triangle?

Explanation

Since , the ratio of the legs opposite and adjacent to is . So the legs can be written as and for some positive constant . The area of a right triangle is , so

This simplifies to

so

and therefore . The legs are and . A triangle with side ratio has hypotenuse , so the hypotenuse is

Therefore, the statement that must be true is that the hypotenuse is .

Concept summary

Use a trigonometric ratio to express side lengths in terms of a common scale factor, then use another geometric condition such as area to find that scale factor and determine the remaining side lengths.

Question 4 of 5

In a triangular support bracket, one angle is a right angle. The shorter leg has length inches, the longer leg has length inches, and the acute angle opposite the shorter leg has tangent . What is the length of the hypotenuse, in inches?

Explanation

Let the acute angle opposite the shorter leg be . Since the shorter leg is opposite and the longer leg is adjacent to ,

Cross-multiply:

So

which gives

Then the longer leg is

The hypotenuse is found with the Pythagorean theorem:

Therefore, the hypotenuse is inches.

Concept summary

Use the tangent ratio to relate the two legs of a right triangle, solve for the unknown side lengths, and then apply the Pythagorean theorem to find the hypotenuse.

Question 5 of 5

From a point on level ground, a surveyor measures the angle of elevation to the top of a building to be . After walking 80 feet directly toward the building, the surveyor measures the angle of elevation to be . What is the height of the building, in feet?

Explanation

Let the horizontal distance from the closer observation point to the building be feet. Since the surveyor walked 80 feet toward the building, the horizontal distance from the farther point is feet. Let the building's height be feet.

Using the closer point, where the angle of elevation is :

so

Using the farther point, where the angle of elevation is :

Substitute :

Multiply both sides by :

Rearrange:

So

Rationalize the denominator:

Because , the height of the building is

Concept summary

Model each angle of elevation with a right triangle and use tangent, since tangent relates opposite side (height) to adjacent side (horizontal distance). When two observations are made from different distances, define a variable for one distance and write a system based on both tangent equations.

Your results

0of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

500-550

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

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Your results

1of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

500-550

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice

Your results

2of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

600-650

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice

Your results

3of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

600-650

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice

Your results

4of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

700+

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice

Your results

5of 5 correct

Estimated SAT Math band

700+

Illustrative range from this short quiz—not an official College Board score.

Adaptive practice, weak-area review, and timed tests live in the MCQsLearn app—pick up where you left off on your phone.

More SAT Math practice