Use trigonometry

to cut the corners

A measurement has been missed off the original drawing. It looks like it should be 10mm's but how do we know that?


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Using algebra we can substitute x for the missing measurement.

















Trigonometry says that tan = opposite over adjacent and tan refers to the ratio between the opposite side and the adjacent side.

Another simple rule says that when the triangle is a right angled triangle and the other two angles are 45 degrees tan will always equal 1.


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To find x - say
tan = opposite over adjacent.
In this case x is opposite and adjacent equals 5.

Transfer the 5 to the other side of the equation where it changes
to multiplication
5 x 1 = x
So x = 5
and 5 + 5 = 10

So the missing measurement is 10mm!

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