Studying Mathematics Thread

[Aliza]

Me too. My first thought was that it said it was a hard problem (like the world's hardest) or something, so I naturally imagined that there was some formula out there that would allow me to determine the sides of some of those triangles without knowing any lengths of any sides at all. If such a thing exists, it eluded me in my search. So I clicked the picture to find that the printable version was to scale. I measured the height and base of the triangle only to realize that scale is not the same thing as actual size. The values started getting really messy and I then noticed that the instructions say not to use trig.

Then I attacked it with a little linear algebra... which worked. But was needlessly invasive when the answer was much simpler.

I tried linear algebra and discovered I had an underdetermined system.

.... OH!

I just figured it out!

I can derive trigonometry using basic geometry!  HA!  EASY!

..... grumblegrumblethatsnotcheatingYOUREcheatinggrumblegrumble....

It's a good question, though. You can really over think it, but it's a good puzzle.