4.

5 Applications of trigonometric functions EMCGK

Area, sine and cosine rule
B
A
C
b
a
c
Area rule Sine rule Cosine rule
area ABC =
1
2
bc sin

A
sin A
a
=
sin B
b
=
sin

C
c
a
2
= b
2
+c
2
2bc cos A
area ABC =
1
2
ac sin

B
a
sin A
=
b
sin B
=
c
sin

C
b
2
= a
2
+c
2
2ac cos B
area ABC =
1
2
ab sin

C c
2
= a
2
+b
2
2ab cos

C
How to determine which rule to use:
1. Area rule:
no perpendicular height is given
2. Sine rule:
no right angle is given
two sides and an angle are given (not the included angle)
two angles and a side are given
3. Cosine rule:
no right angle is given
two sides and the included angle are given
three sides are given
Problems in two dimensions EMCGM
Worked example 13: Area, sine and cosine rule
QUESTION
Given ABC with a = 14 cm, c = 17 cm and

B = 19

.
B
A
C
b
19

a = 14 cm
c = 17 cm
Calculate the following:
1. b
2.

C
3. Area ABC
161 Chapter 4. Trigonometry