Quote (boblong11 @ Mar 29 2009 - 18:42:59)
Given: Cos45° = 1/sqrt2 Explain how this can be determined using a right triangle.
assuming 45/45/90 triangle
the cosine of one of the 45 degree angles is opposite/hypotenuse
assuming the legs are of length 1, pythagoren theorem says 1^2+1^2=hypotenuse^2
opposite of the 45 degree angle = the length 1
hypotenuse = the length sqrt2 sqrt(1^2+1^2)
1/sqrt2