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Cosines
Let's consider types of triangles with the three pieces of
information shown below.
We can't use the Law of Sines on these because we don't have an angle and a
side opposite it. We need another method for SAS and SSS triangles.
SAS
You may have a side, an angle, AAA
and then another side
You may have all three angles.
a
b
B
A c
Example 1.
Solve a triangle where b = 1, c = 3 and A = 80° B
3
Draw a picture. a
80 °
This is SAS A C
1
a b c 2bc cos A
2 2 2
minus 2 times the
One side squared sum of each of times the cosine of
the other sides product the angle
squared of those between
other sides those sides
Do we know an angle and side
opposite it? Hint: we will be solving for the
side opposite the angle we
No, so we must use Law of know.
Cosines.
Example 1.Solve a triangle where b = 1, c = 3 and A = 80°
B
3 a
80 ° C
A
1
a b c 2bc cos A
2 2 2
a 1 3 213cos 80
2 2 2
a = 2.99
We'll label side a with the value we found.
B
We now have all of the sides but how can we
3
18.85°
find an angle? 2.99
C = 81.15° B = 18.85°
Example #2
Solve a triangle where a = 5, b = 8 and c = 9
9 5 8 258 cos C
2 2 2
81 89 80 cos
C
8 1
cos C cos
C
1
84.3
80 10
Example #2
B
9
62.2
Do we know an angle and 5
side opposite it?
33.5 84.3
A C
Yes, so use Law of Sines. 8