Question: Find the size of angle $XYZ$. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.
$Z$
$12$ cm
$X$
$4$ cm
$Y$
Right triangle $XYZ$ with a right angle at $X$; $ZX$ is the vertical side labeled $12$ cm, $XY$ is the horizontal side labeled $4$ cm, and the shaded angle is at $Y$. position_hint = center
1. **Problem Statement:** We need to find the size of angle $XYZ$ in a right triangle $XYZ$ where the right angle is at $X$. The side $ZX$ (vertical) is $12$ cm and side $XY$ (horizontal) is $4$ cm.
2. **Identify the angle and sides:** Angle $XYZ$ is at vertex $Y$. The sides adjacent to angle $Y$ are $XY$ (horizontal) and $YZ$ (hypotenuse). We know $XY=4$ cm and $ZX=12$ cm.
3. **Use trigonometric ratios:** Since angle $X$ is right, triangle $XYZ$ is right-angled. To find angle $Y$, we use the tangent function which relates the opposite side to the adjacent side:
$$\tan(\angle XYZ) = \frac{\text{opposite side}}{\text{adjacent side}}$$
Here, opposite side to angle $Y$ is $ZX=12$ cm and adjacent side is $XY=4$ cm.
4. **Calculate tangent:**
$$\tan(\angle XYZ) = \frac{12}{4} = 3$$
5. **Find the angle:** Use the inverse tangent (arctan) to find the angle:
$$\angle XYZ = \tan^{-1}(3)$$
6. **Evaluate the angle:** Using a calculator,
$$\angle XYZ \approx 71.565\degree$$
7. **Round to 1 decimal place:**
$$\angle XYZ \approx 71.6\degree$$
**Final answer:** The size of angle $XYZ$ is approximately $71.6\degree$.