Law of Sine Cosine
Law of Sine Cosine
.
Example AAS – Solution cont’d
Using b = 28 produces
and
Law of Sines
For non right triangles B
Law of sines a
c
a b c
sin A sin B sin C A
b
C
Try this:
o o
A 43 , B 67 , c 45mm
Let’s look at this: Example 1
Given a triangle, demonstrate using the Law of
Sines that it is a valid triangle (numbers are
rounded to the nearest tenth so they may be
up to a tenth off):
a=5 A = 40o
b=7 B = 64.1o
c = 7.5 C = 75.9o
Is it valid??
And this: Example 2
Given a triangle, demonstrate using the Law of
Sines that it is a valid triangle (numbers are
rounded to the nearest tenth so they may be
up to a tenth off):
a=5 A = 40o
b=7 B = 115.9o
c = 3.2 C = 24.1o
Is it valid??
Why does this work?
Looking at these two examples
a = 5 A = 40o
b = 7 B = 64.1o
c = 7.5 C = 75.9o
a = 5 A = 40o
b = 7 B = 115.9o
c = 3.2 C = 24.1o
a = 5 A = 40o
b = 7 B = 115.9o
c = 3.2 C = 24.1o
The Ambiguous Case
The Ambiguous Case (SSA)
Ambiguous Case
1. Is it Law or Sines or Law of Cosines
1. Law of Cosines – solve based upon one solution
2. Law of Sines – go to #2
2. Law of Sines - Is it the SSA case? (Two sides and angle opposite)
1. No – not ambiguous, solve based upon one solution
2. Yes – go to #3.
3. Is the side opposite the angle the shortest side?
1. No – not ambiguous, solve based upon one solution
2. Yes – go to #4
4. Is the angle obtuse?
1. No – go to #5
2. Yes – no solution
5. Calculate the height of the triangle
height = the side not opposite the angle x the sine of the angle
1. If the side opposite the angle is shorter than the height – no solution
2. If the side opposite the angle is equal to the height – one solution
3. If the side opposite the angle is longer than the height – two solutions
How many solutions are there?
1. A = 30o a=5b=3 1
2. B = 50o a=6b=5 2
3. C = 80o b=5c=6 1
4. A = 40o a=4b=8 0
5. a=5b=4c=6 1
6. B = 20o a = 10 c = 15 1
7. A = 25o a=3b=6 2
8. C = 75o a=5b=3 1
Example – Single-Solution Case—SSA
One solution: a b
Example – Solution SSA
By the Law of Sines, you have
sin B sin A Reciprocal form
b a
( sina A)
sin B b Multiply each side by b.
B 21.41o B is acute.
Example – Solution SSA cont’d
a 22 29.40 inches
c sin C c sin(116 .59)
sin A sin( 42)
What about more than one
solution?
How many solutions are there?
1. A = 30o a=5b=3 1
2. B = 50o a=6b=5 2
3. C = 80o b=5c=6 1
4. A = 40o a=4b=8 0
5. a=5b=4c=6 1
6. B = 20o a = 10 c = 15 1
7. A = 25o a=3b=6 2
8. C = 75o a=5b=3 1
Solve #2, 7
Area of an Oblique Triangle
Area of an Oblique Triangle
The procedure used to prove the Law of Sines leads to
a simple formula for the area of an oblique triangle.
Referring to the triangles below, that each triangle
has a height of h = b sin A.
A is acute. A is obtuse.
Area of a Triangle - SAS
Area = ½ ab sin C
= ½ (90)(52)(sin102)
2289 square meters.
Homework 35
Section 6.1 p. 416:
3, 5, 19-24 all, 25-37 odd
Law of Cosines
Day 67
Plan for the day
Law of Cosines
Finding the area of a triangle – Heron’s
Formula
What You Should Learn
Use the Law of Cosines to solve oblique
triangles (SSS or SAS).
Law of sines
B
a b c
sin A sin B sin C c
a
A C
b
Ambiguous Case
1. Is it Law or Sines or Law of Cosines
1. Law of Cosines – solve based upon one solution
2. Law of Sines – go to #2
2. Law of Sines - Is it the SSA case? (Two sides and angle opposite)
1. No – not ambiguous, solve based upon one solution
2. Yes – go to #3.
3. Is the side opposite the angle the shortest side?
1. No – not ambiguous, solve based upon one solution
2. Yes – go to #4
4. Is the angle obtuse?
1. No – go to #5
2. Yes – no solution
5. Calculate the height of the triangle
height = the side not opposite the angle x the sine of the angle
1. If the side opposite the angle is shorter than the height – no solution
2. If the side opposite the angle is equal to the height – one solution
3. If the side opposite the angle is longer than the height – two solutions
Area of a Triangle - SAS
B
SAS – you know two sides: b, c and
c a
the angle between: A
h
A C
Remember area of a triangle is
b ½ base ● height
Base = b
Height = c ● sin A
Area = ½ bc(sinA)
c a
A C
b
2 2 2
a b c 2bcCos A
2 2 2
b a c 2acCosB
2 2 2
c a b 2abCosC
Try these
1. B = 20o a = 10 c = 15
c a
A C
b
Law of Cosines
SSS
b2 c2 a 2
cos A
2bc
a 2 c 2 b2
cos B
2ac
a 2 b2 c2
cos C
2ab
Always solve for the angle across from the longest side first!
Why
It is wise to find the largest angle when you
have SSS. Knowing the cosine of an angle,
you can determine whether the angle is acute
or obtuse. That is,
cos > 0 for 0 < < 90 Acute
1. a = 5 b=4 c=6
2. a = 20 b = 10 c=
28
3. a = 8 b=5 c = 12
Applications
An Application of the Law of Cosines
c a
SSS – Given all three sides
h
A C
Heron’s formula:
b
A s ( s a)( s b)( s c)
abc
where s
2
Try these
Given the triangle with three sides of 6, 8, 10
find the area