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tmmyc wrote:First, see that after dropping perpendicular lines, we have two right triangles.
Detailed Explanation:
Let's begin with the triangle on the left.
We know the sides are 1 and (sqrt 3) from point P.
If you know your special right triangles, you will quickly see that this is a 30-60-90 right triangle.
The angle opposite '1' is 30 degrees.
Let's move on to the triangle on the right.
We know that a straight line has 180 degrees.
Since we know the lower angle of the triangle on the left is 30 degrees, and we also know the angle between the two line segments is 90 degrees, the lower angle of the triangle on the right must be 60 degrees in order to sum to 180 degrees. (30 + 90 + x = 180; x = 60)
This means the triangle on the right is also a 30-60-90 triangle. The hypotenuse of this triangle is the same as the other triangle's (which is '2' by the Pythagorean Theorem), since both are radii of the same circle.
Using the same properties of a 30-60-90 triangle, you can find the side lengths and finally the point (s,t) which gives the value for s.
