1. consider the right triangle abc given below. a. find the length of side b to two decimal places. b. find the length of side a to two decimal places in three different ways. 2. solve the triangles below.

#1)
A) b = 10.57
B) a = 22.66

#2) 
A) a = 1.35 (across from the 15° angle)
∠C = 50.07° (the angle at the top of the triangle)
∠B = 114.93°

B) ∠A = 83°
b = 10.77 (across from angle B)
a = 15.11 (across from angle A)

Explanation
#1)
A) Since b is across from the 25° angle and we have the hypotenuse, we have the information for the sine ratio (opposite/hypotenuse):
sin 25 = b/25

Multiply both sides by 25:
25*sin 25 = (b/25)*25
25*sin 25 = b
10.57 = b

B) We will first use the cosine ratio.  Side a is the side adjacent to the angle and we have the hypotenuse, and the cosine ratio is adjacent/hypotenuse:
cos 25 = a/25

Multiply both sides by 25:
25*cos 25 = (a/25)*25
25*cos 25 = a
22.66 = a

Now we will use the Pythagorean theorem.  We know from part a that side b = 10.57, and the figure has a hypotenuse of 25:
a²+(10.57)² = 25²
a² + 111.7249 = 625

Subtract 111.7249 from both sides:
a²+111.7249-111.7249=625-111.7249
a² = 513.2751

Take the square root of both sides:
√a² = √513.2751
a = 22.66

#2)
A) Let A be the 15° angle, B be the angle to the right and C be the angle at the top of the triangle.  This means side a is across from angle A, side B is across from angle B, and side c is across from angle C.

Using the law of cosines,
a²=3²+4²-2(3)(4)cos(15)
a²=9+16-24cos(15)
a²=25-24cos(15)
a²=1.8178

Take the square root of both sides:
√a² = √1.8178
a = 1.3483≈1.35

Now we can use the Law of Sines to find angle C:
sin 15/1.35 = sin C/4

Cross multiply:
4*sin 15 = 1.35* sin C

Divide both sides by 1.35:
(4*sin 15)/1.35 = (1.35*sin C)/1.35
(4*sin 15)/1.35 = sin C

Take the inverse sine of both sides:
sin⁻¹((4*sin 15)/1.35) = sin⁻¹(sin C)
sin⁻¹((4*sin 15)/1.35) = C
50.07 = C

To find angle B, add angle A and angle C together and subtract from 180:
B=180-(50.07+15) = 180-65.07 = 114.93

B) To find angle A, add angle B and angle C together and subtract from 180:
180-(52+45) = 180-97 = 83

Now use the Law of Sines to find side b (across from angle B):
sin 52/12 = sin 45/b

Cross multiply:
b*sin 52 = 12*sin 45

Divide both sides by sin 52:
(b*sin 52)/(sin 52) = (12*sin 45)/(sin 52)
b = 10.77

Find side a using the Law of Sines:
sin 83/a = sin 52/12

Cross multiply:
12*sin 83 = a*sin 52

Divide both sides by sin 52:
(12*sin 83)/(sin 52) = (a*sin 52)/(sin 52)
15.11 = a

Do you need with the x value for the minimum? its always between the two intercepts for a parabola