1212In triangle ABC, angle C is a right angle. If , what is the value of cos B?

1212If triangle ABC is defined as a right triangle, where angle C is the right angle, then the cosine of angle A (cos A) is defined as the ratio the length of the side adjacent to angle A ÷ the length of the hypotenuse. Since this ratio is defined as 5/8, then the the length of the hypotenuse length of the side opposite angle A, which is also the side adjacent to angle B, can be derived from the Pythagorean theorem: , where a represents the length of the side opposite angle A. Solving for a yields so . Then, to determine the cosine of angle B, use the same ratio in relation to angle B:
cosB = the length of the side adjacent to angle B÷the length of the hypotenuse = .