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PS1. Evaluate 2a2 + b2 - 2ab cos C for a = 10.0, b = 15.0, and C = 110.0°.
Round your result to the nearest tenth. [5.3]
PS2. Find the area of a triangle with a base of 6 inches and a height of 8.5 inches. [1.2]
Law of Cosines
y The Law of Cosines can be used to solve triangles in which two sides and the included
B(a cos C, a sin C) angle (SAS) are known or in which three sides (SSS) are known. Consider the triangle in
Figure 7.11. The height BD is drawn from B perpendicular to the x-axis. The triangle BDA
is a right triangle, and the coordinates of B are 1a cos C, a sin C2. The coordinates of A are
a c 1b, 02. Using the distance formula, we can find the distance c.
c2 = a2 + b2 - 2ab cos C
Law of Cosines
If A, B, and C are the measures of the angles of a triangle and a, b, and c are the
lengths of the sides opposite these angles, then
c2 = a2 + b2 - 2ab cos C
a2 = b2 + c2 - 2bc cos A
b2 = a2 + c2 - 2ac cos B
7.2 LAW OF COSINES AND AREA 593
110.0°
b = 210.02 + 15.02 - 2110.02115.02 cos 110.0°
b L 20.7 centimeters
B a = 10.0 cm C
In the next example, we know the length of each side, but we do not know the measure
of any of the angles.
Solution
b2 = a2 + c2 - 2ac cos B
a2 + c2 - b2
cos B = • Solve for cos B.
2ac
322 + 402 - 202
= • Substitute for a, b, and c.
213221402
322 + 402 - 202
B = cos-1 a b • Solve for angle B.
213221402
B L 30° • To the nearest degree
N
EXAMPLE 3 Solve an Application Using the Law of Cosines
N
B 138° A boat sailed 3.0 miles at a heading of 78° and then turned to a heading of 138° and
78° 3.0 mi
sailed another 4.3 miles. Find the distance and the bearing of the boat from the starting
A 78°
point.
α
4.3 mi
b
Solution
Sketch a diagram (see Figure 7.13). First find the measure of angle B in triangle ABC.
C B = 78° + 1180° - 138°2 = 120°
Figure 7.13 (continued)
594 CHAPTER 7 APPLICATIONS OF TRIGONOMETRY
There are five different cases that we may encounter when solving an oblique triangle.
Each case is listed below under the law that can be used to solve the triangle.
Question • In triangle ABC, A = 40°, C = 60°, and b = 114. Should you use the Law of Sines
or the Law of Cosines to solve this triangle?
Answer • Because the measure of two angles and the length of the included side are given, the
triangle can be solved by using the Law of Sines.
7.2 LAW OF COSINES AND AREA 595
B
Area of a Triangle
1
a c The formula A = bh can be used to find the area of a triangle when the base and height
h 2
are given. In this section we will find the areas of triangles when the height is not given.
We will use K for the area of a triangle because the letter A is often used to represent the
C b A
measure of an angle.
Acute triangle Consider the areas of the acute and obtuse triangles in Figure 7.14.
B
Height of each triangle: h = c sin A
c 1
h a Area of each triangle: K = bh
2
C b A
1
Obtuse triangle
K = bc sin A • Substitute for h.
2
Figure 7.14 Thus we have established the following theorem.
Solution
In Figure 7.15, two sides and the included angle of the triangle are given. Using the
formula for area, we have
B
Figure 7.15 When two angles and an included side are given, the Law of Sines is used to derive a
formula for the area of a triangle. First, solve for c in the Law of Sines.
c b
=
sin C sin B
b sin C
c =
sin B
1
Substitute for c in the formula K = bc sin A.
2
b sin A
1 1 b sin C
K = bc sin A = ba
2 2 sin B
b2 sin C sin A
K =
2 sin B
596 CHAPTER 7 APPLICATIONS OF TRIGONOMETRY
In like manner, the following two alternative formulas can be derived for the area of a
triangle.
Solution
To use the preceding area formula, we need to know two angles and the included side.
Therefore, we need to determine the measure of angle B.
B = 180° - 32° - 77° = 71°
Thus
a2 sin B sin C 142 sin 71° sin 77°
K = = L 170 square inches
2 sin A 2 sin 32°
Try Exercise 32, page 598
Math Matters
Heron’s Formula
Recent findings indicate that
Heron’s formula for finding the The Law of Cosines can be used to derive Heron’s formula for the area of a triangle in
area of a triangle was first which three sides of the triangle are given.
discovered by Archimedes.
However, the formula is called
Heron’s formula in honor of the
geometer Heron of Alexandria
Heron’s Formula for Finding the Area of a Triangle
(A.D. 50), who gave an ingenious
proof of the theorem in his work If a, b, and c are the lengths of the sides of a triangle, then the area K of the
Metrica. Because Heron of triangle is
Alexandria was also known as
1a + b + c2
Hero, some texts refer to Heron’s 1
K = 2s1s - a21s - b21s - c2, where s =
formula as Hero’s formula. 2
Solution
Calculate the semiperimeter s.
a + b + c 7.0 + 15 + 12
s = = = 17
2 2
7.2 LAW OF COSINES AND AREA 597
Solution
The lengths (in feet) of the sides of a triangular face are a = 646, b = 576, and
c = 576.
a + b + c 646 + 576 + 576
s = = = 899 feet
2 2
K = 1s1s - a21s - b21s - c2
= 123,729,318,063
L 154,043 square feet
Macduff Everton/CORBIS
The cost C of the glass is the product of the cost per square foot and the area.
C L 35 # 154,043 = 5,391,505
The approximate cost of the glass for one face of the Luxor Hotel is $5,390,000.
The pyramid portion of the Luxor Try Exercise 60, page 600
Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada
by 4.75 feet. Find the measure of the angle u that is formed 51. Distance to a Plane A plane traveling at 180 miles per hour
by the union of the diagonal shown on the front of the box passes 400 feet directly over an observer. The plane is traveling
and the diagonal shown on the right side of the box. along a straight path with an angle of elevation of 14°. Find the
distance of the plane from the observer 10 seconds after the
plane has passed directly overhead.
6.50 ft 53. Distance and Bearing from a Starting Point A plane flew
181 miles at a heading of 108.5° and then turned to a heading
46. Submarine Rescue Mission Use the distances shown in the of 124.6° and flew another 225 miles. Find the distance and the
following figure to determine the depth of the submarine bearing of the plane from the starting point.
below the surface of the water. Assume that the line segment
between the surface ships is directly above the submarine. 54. Engine Design An engine has a 16-centimeter connecting
rod that is attached to a rotating crank with a 4-centimeter
615 ft
radius. See the following figure.
B 78.0° 55. Area of a Triangular Lot Find the area of a triangular piece
of land that is bounded by sides of 236 meters, 620 meters, and
814 meters. Round to the nearest hundred square meters.
162 m
56. Geometry Find the exact area of a parallelogram with sides of
exactly 8 feet and 12 feet. The shorter diagonal is exactly 10 feet.
C
57. Geometry Find the exact area of a square inscribed in a cir-
49. Geometry A regular hexagon is inscribed in a circle with a cle with a radius of exactly 9 inches.
radius of exactly 40 centimeters. Find the exact length of one
side of the hexagon. 58. Geometry Find the exact area of a regular hexagon inscribed
in a circle with a radius of exactly 24 centimeters.
50. Angle Between Boundaries of a Lot A triangular city lot
59. Cost of a Lot A commercial piece of real estate is priced at
has sides of 224 feet, 182 feet, and 165 feet. Find the angle
$2.20 per square foot. Find, to the nearest $1000, the cost of a
between the longer two sides of the lot.
triangular lot measuring 212 feet by 185 feet by 240 feet.
600 CHAPTER 7 APPLICATIONS OF TRIGONOMETRY
60. Cost of a Lot An industrial piece of real estate is priced at Use Mollweide’s formula to determine whether either ABC
$4.15 per square foot. Find, to the nearest $1000, the cost of a or DEF has an incorrect dimension.
triangular lot measuring 324 feet by 516 feet by 412 feet.
64. Check Dimensions of Trusses The following diagram
61. Area of a Pasture Find the number of acres in a pasture shows some of the steel trusses in a railroad bridge.
whose shape is a triangle measuring 800 feet by 1020 feet by
F
680 feet. Round to the nearest hundredth of an acre. (An acre D
is 43,560 square feet.) C
A
70. Show that the area of the circumscribed triangle in the fol-
a + b + c
lowing figure is K = rs, where s = .
2
B
An architect has determined the following dimensions for
ABC and DEF:
c
ABC: A = 53.5°, B = 86.5°, C = 40.0° a
a = 13.0 feet, b = 16.1 feet, c = 10.4 feet
r
DEF: D = 52.1°, E = 59.9°, F = 68.0°
d = 17.2 feet, e = 21.3 feet, f = 22.8 feet A b C