Would http://i.imgur.com/jMXfc.jpg just be 3sin(30)?

Which is just 3(1/2) which would be 1 1/2cm.

Never mind, figured out I had to use the law of sines. It would be 3sin90/sin30.

If you remember the Unit Circle then you don't need to use law of sine. You get the same answer though so...

What about http://i.imgur.com/qPmaI.jpg and http://i.imgur.com/qkKFj.jpg

For the first one, solve for x. You could also solve for -x.

The second one is similar. Solve for one variable in one equation and plug the resulting equation in to the other equation to get hard numbers. You then plug your numbers into the final equation.

I tried that on the first one. I used half a page and still couldn't figure out what to do. I know that you have to solve for, lets say, x in the first one to get x = 7+6y and then you substitute that into the second equation to get -5(7+6y)+10ay = 32. Once you simplify that you get -35-30y+10ay = 32. I have no idea what to do after that. Do I move the 32 over and set it equal to 0? Do I solve for y and put it back in the first equation?

I'll try the second one real quick. I had done the second one in my head and gotten 12.5, which isn't an answer choice. Though when I work it out I still get 12.5? So I guess the book is wrong?

It's easier for me on paper and I'm working all this out in my head, so sorry for the confusion that I may cause.

When you say simplify, you're not simplifying it all the way. What you've got there can be simplified even more.

For the second one, off the top of my head, it works out to be a whole number. Check your math. You did something wrong.

Also, I may be vague, but it's how I like to do things in general. I always pay more attention to the processes than I do a result. For teaching, I won't tell you how to do it, but I will help you understand what to do if that makes sense.

That makes sense

Here's my work for the second problem, I haven't gone back and retried the first one yet.

(p - q = -4), (p + q = -3)

(p - q = -4)
p =(-4 + q)

(-4 + q) + q = -3
-4 + q = -3 - q
q = 1 - q
2q = 1
q = 0.5

p - 0.5 = -4
p = -3.5

-3.5² - 0.5²
-12.25 - 0.25
-12.5

EDIT: http://i.imgur.com/coQNS.jpg

What happens when you square a negative number?

Anyways, I'm watching TV now so I'm going to be sitting things out now. I'm glad to help, though. I did pretty well on my ACT overall.