1

ST
In a triangle ABC, the angles are denoted by
capital letters A, B, and C and the lengths of the
sides opposite these angles are denoted by a, b,
c respectively. Semi-perimeter of the triangle is
a b c
written as s
, and its area by
2
sinB sinC
B
S or .
b
c
Let R be the radius of the circumcircle of triangle ABC.

Basic Formulae
(i)

Sine rule:
sin A
a

sinB
b

sinC
c

1
.
2R

(ii)

Cosine rule:

(iii)

c 2 a2
,
2bc
Projection rule:

(iv)

a = b cosC + c cosB,
b = c cosA + a cosC,
c = a cosB + b cosA.
Napier's analogy:

(v)

B C b c
A
C A c a
B
cot , tan
cot ,
2
b c
2
2
c a
2
Trigonometric ratios of half - angles:

cos A

b2

cosB=

a2

c 2 b2
,
2ac

cosC=

tan

sin

(vi)

s b s c

A
2

bc

, sin

cos

A
2

s s a

tan

A
2

s b s c

bc

, cos

s s a

s c s a

B
2

ca
s s b

B
2

ca
tan

B
2

, cos

tan

, sin
C
2

s c s a
s s b

a2

b2 c 2
.
2ab

A B
2

a b
C
.cot .
a b
2

s a s b

C
2

ab

s s c
ab
, tan

C
2

s a s b
s s c

Since, every angle of a triangle is less than 180 0, half of each angle will be less
than 900, and thus, all the trigonometric ratios of half the angles are positive.
Area of a triangle:
1
1
1
bc sin A = ca sinB = ab sin C = s s-a s b s c
2
2
2

abc
4R

Solution of Triangles:
The three sides a, b, c and the three angles A, B, C are called the elements of the
triangle ABC. When any three of these six elements (except all the three angles) of a
triangle are given, the triangle is known completely; that is the other three elements can
be expressed in terms of the given elements and can be evaluated. This process is
called the solution of triangles.
(i)
If the three sides a, b, c are given, angle A is obtained from
s b s c
b2 c 2 a2
A
. B and C can be obtained in the
tan
or cos A
2bc
2
s s a
(ii)

(iii)

similar way.
If two sides b and c and the included angle A are given, then
B C b c
A
B C
B C
A
gives
tan
cot
. Also
90
, so that B and C can
2
b c
2
2
2
2
b sin A
2
2
2
be evaluated. The third side is given by a =
or a = b + c 2bc cosA.
sinB
If two sides b and c and the angle B (opposite to side b) are given, then
c
bsin A
give the remaining elements.
sinC
sinB , A = 180 (B + C) and b
b
sinB
If b < c sinB, there is no triangle possible (fig1). If b = c sinB and B is an acute
angle, then only one triangle is possible (fig 2). If c sinB < b < c and B is an
acute angle, then there are two value of angle C (fig 3). If c < b and B is an acute
angle, then there is only one triangle (fig 4).
A
c

fig. 1

c sinB

c sinB

fig. 2
A

c sinB

c
b

c sinB

fig. 3

C2

C1
Fig. 4

C2

C1

This is, sometimes, called an ambiguous case.

If one side a and angles B and C are given, then A = 180 (B + C), and
a sinB
a sinC
b
, c
.
sin A
sin A

If the three angles A, B, C are given, we can only find the ratios of the sides
a, b, c by using the sine rule (since there are infinite number of similar triangles).

Circles Connected with Triangle

(i)
Circum-circle:
A

The circle passing through the

vertices of the triangle ABC is called
the circum-circle. Its radius R is called
the circum-radius. In the
triangle
ABC,
a
b
c
abc
.
R
2sin A 2sinB 2sinC 4
In-Circle:

(ii)

The circle touching the three sides

of the triangle internally is called the
inscribed or the in-circle of the
triangle. Its radius r is called the inradius of the circle. In the triangle
ABC,
A
B
r
s a tan
s b tan
s
2
2

O
R
B

A
O
r
C

s c

tan

C
2

4R sin

A
2

Remark:
1
A
B
C
sin sin , we find that r 4R.
8
2
2
2
R. Here equality holds for the equilateral triangle.

From r = 4R sin
2r
(iii)

Escribed circles:

The circle touching BC and the two sides

AB and AC produced of ABC externally
is called the escribed circle opposite A. Its
radius is denoted by r1. Similarly r2, and r3
denote the radii of the escribed circles
opposite angles B and C respectively.
A
r1, r2, r3 are called the ex-radii of ABC.
Here
A
A
B
C
r1
s tan
4R sin
cos
cos ,
s a
2
2
2
2
B
B
C
A
r2
s tan
4R sin
cos
cos
,
s b
2
2
2
2
C
C
A
B
r3
s tan
4R sin
cos
cos ,
s c
2
2
2
2
r1 + r2 + r3 = 4R + r,

r1

O1

sin

B
2

C
sin .
2

r1r2

r2r3

r3r1

s2

r1r2r3
.
r