Let's find the longer leg of the larger triangle first ...this is also the hypotenuse of the smaller triangle
cos 30 = sqrt3 / 2 = adj / hyp = adj/16
adj = 16 sqrt3 / 2 = 8 sqrt3 = hypotenuse of smaller triangle
now for the smaller triangle
cos 30 = adj / hyp = sqrt 3 / 2 = adj / (8 sqrt 3)
adj = longer leg = sqrt 3 / 2 * 8 sqrt 3 = 12 cm 