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What is the measure of the smallest of two acute angle?

What is the measure of the largest of two acute angle?

Also What is the measure of the smallest of two acute angle What is the measure of the largest of two acute angle class=

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DeanR

The real answer is we don't know; really the best we can do is an approximation with a calculator.  They're asking for that approximation, but don't think for a second that's the actual exact measure of the angles here.  It just goes to show we don't need angles; we have these exact lengths -- why mush it up with an inexact angle?

But we do what we're told.  In the a=8, b=15, c=17 right triangle we have two acute angles, of course complementary, adding to 90 degrees. The usual right triangle identities tell us

sin A = cos B = a/c, cos A = sin B = b/c, tan A = cot B = a/b, tan B = cot A = b/a.

so

A = arcsin(8/17) = arccos(15/17) = arctan(8/15)

B = arcsin(15/17) = arccos(8/17) = arctan(15/8)

We've written about all the exact things we can write.  

A = arctan(8/15) ≈ 28.07°  (smallest)

B = arctan(15/8) ≈ 61.93°   (largest)