CHAPTER 10: SOLUTION OF TRIANGLES

10.1 Sine Rule

C
a

b
A

B
c

Can be used when

Two sides and one non-included angle, or
Two angles and one opposite side are given.

Example 1
B
70

4 cm

50

Calculate the length, in cm, of AB.

Example 2
B

26 cm
A

54

28 cm

Calculate ACB.

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Ambiguous case

C2

C1
a
A

May occur if
1. a < c.
2. A is an acute non-included angle.
The two triangles that can be formed are ABC1 and ABC2.

Example 3
B
26 cm

54

28 cm

Calculate ACB.

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10.2 Cosine Rule

C
a

b
A

B
c

a2 = b2 + c2 2bc cos A
b2 = a2 + c2 2ac cos B
c2 = a2 + b2 2ab cos C
Can be used when
1. Two sides and the included angle, or
2. Three sides of a triangle are given.
Example 4
C
x

4 cm
B

50

A
7 cm

Calculate the length of AC, x, in cm for the triangle above.

Example 5
B

7 cm

8 cm

C
6 cm

Calculate BAC for the triangle above.

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10.3 Area of Triangles

C
a

b
A

B
c

Example 6
C
7 cm

40

4 cm
A

Calculate the area of the triangle above.

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