Solutions of triangles

Sine rule

Cosine rule
Area of a triangle

C a b B c

Sine rule

a b c SinA SinB SinC

The sine rule can be used to solve a triangle if given either:

1. Two angles and one side 2. Two sides and the non-included angle.

Example 1
C

1100
5 cm 450 c A B

Find the unknown side.

Solution:
c 5 0 0 Sin110 Sin45

5Sin110 c 0 Sin45
= 6.64 cm

Example 2
R

6 cm 450 Q

8 cm

Find the unknown angle, .

Solution: 6 8 0 Sin45 SinR

8Sin45 SinR 6
0

Sin R= 0.9248

R= 70.520 = 1800 (70.520+450)

= 64.480

C a b

B c A

a b c 2bc cos A 2 2 2 b a c 2ac cos B

2 2 2

Cosine rule

c a b 2ab cosC
2 2 2

The cosine rule can be used to solve a triangle if given either:

1. Two sides and the included angle 2. Three sides.

Example 3
C a 5 cm B 500 A 8 cm

Find the unknown side.

Solution:

a b c 2bc cos A
2 2 2

a 5 8 2(5)(8) cos 50
2 2 2

a 37 .58
a = 6.13 cm

Example 4
C 16.5 cm 10 cm B

12 cm

Find the unknown angle, .

Solution:
a b c 2bc cos A
2 2 2

16 .52 10 2 12 2 2(10 )(12 ) cos

240 cos 100 144 272.25

28.25 cos 240 Cos Q = -0.1177
= 96.760

C a b

B c A

Area of a Triangle

1 Area bc sin A 2
1 Area ac sin B 2 1 Area ab sin C 2

Example 5
C

3 cm B

32
A

5 cm

Find the area of the triangle .

Solution:
Area of triangle , ABC

1 bcSinA 2
1 (3)(5) Sin32 2
= 3.97 cm2

Example 6
0

55
8 cm

B A 10 cm

Find the area of the triangle .

Solution:
b c SinB SinC 8 10 SinB Sin550 8( Sin55 0 ) SinB 10

B= 40.90

A 180 55 40.9
0 0

= 84.10

Area of triangle , ABC

1 bcSinA 2
1 (8)(10) Sin84.1 2
= 39.78 cm2