# Math Help - Isosceles triangle problem Using right triangle trig

1. ## Isosceles triangle problem Using right triangle trig

I am not understanding how to solve this one, so any help would be greatly appreciated!
Problem: An isosceles triangle has equal sides of length 10 cm and a base of 8 cm. Find the angles of the triangle. Hint: draw a perpendicular bisector at the base.

Here's where I started- i have two right triangles, bisected, so working with one triangle I have a hypotenuse of 10 cm and a base of 4. I know I need to use the COS (4/10), but I was not sure if it needed to be an inverse COS to get the angle. I got an angle of 66.4 degrees, but I am not sure if I solved that right. (I am not in trig, our teacher just did a short intro to right triangle trig and now i'm stuck.)

2. ## Re: Isosceles triangle problem Using right triangle trig

It's not cos(4/10), it's \displaystyle \begin{align*} \cos{\theta} = \frac{4}{10} \end{align*}. Yes, you need to use the inverse cosine to evaluate the angle. Make sure your calculator is in degree mode.

3. ## Re: Isosceles triangle problem Using right triangle trig

Since $\cos \theta = \frac{4}{10}$, $\theta = \cos^{-1} \frac{4}{10} \approx 66.4$ degrees as you've said. To finish, note that you'll have the same angle on the other side of the base of your triangle and that the three angles should sum to 180 degrees.

4. ## Re: Isosceles triangle problem Using right triangle trig

cshanholtzer- thank you. I wanted to verify I was getting this right. I am taking a trig class next semester because I need to build on my math skills. I appreciate your help.