SAT Math · Right triangles and trigonometry · medium

Two right triangles are similar, with corresponding angle A in each triangle. In the smaller triangle, (A) = 3/5. What is (A) in the…

Two right triangles are similar, with corresponding angle AA in each triangle. In the smaller triangle, sin⁡(A)=3/5\sin(A) = 3/5. What is sin⁡(A)\sin(A) in the larger, similar triangle?

Answer and explanation

Answer: B: 3/5

Similar triangles have equal corresponding angles, so angle AA is the same size in both triangles. A trigonometric ratio such as sin⁡(A)\sin(A) depends only on the angle, not on how big the triangle is: scaling every side by the same factor multiplies the opposite side and the hypotenuse by that factor, and the factor cancels in the ratio. So sin⁡(A)=3/5\sin(A) = 3/5 in the larger triangle too, choice B. Choice A, 4/54/5, is cos⁡(A)\cos(A) for a 3-4-5 triangle, a mix-up between the opposite and adjacent sides. Choice C assumes the ratio changes with size, which it does not; the scale factor is not needed. Choice D, 9/259/25, squares the ratio, as if a scale factor applied to area changed the sine.

More Right triangles and trigonometry questions

All Right triangles and trigonometry questions

Learn the method behind questions like this one

The SAT Math course teaches each tested skill through lessons, step-by-step solutions to sample problems, the complete study guide and full-length practice tests.