FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

TRIGONOMETRY
BASIC AND GENERAL ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS (BGEMs)

TOPIC 6:

LAW OF SINES AND COSINES

The relationship between the lengths of the side of a triangle and the measures of its interior angle can be
shown by the following two laws.

Law of Sines

sin 𝛼 sin 𝛽 sin 𝛾

= =
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐

Law of Cosines
𝑎2 = 𝑏2 + 𝑐 2 − 2𝑏𝑐 cos 𝛼

𝑏2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑐 2 − 2𝑎𝑐 cos 𝛽

𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 − 2𝑎𝑏 cos 𝛾

EXAMPLE
In the figure shown, find the length x

SOLUTION
The sum of the interior angles of a triangle equals 180o. Thus, the length of the
third angle should be equal to 180o – 45o – 60o.

Using the law of Sines,

sin 45𝑜 sin 60𝑜
=
10 𝑥
√2/2 √3/2
=
10 𝑥
Thus, 𝑥 = 5√6 in
EXAMPLE
In the figure shown, find the length x.

SOLUTION
Using the Law of Cosine
𝑥 2 = 12 + 32 − 2(1)(3) cos 60𝑜
Thus 𝑥 = √7 in

PRACTICE SET:

1. In the figure shown, find the measure of angles x and y. Note that x is
an obtuse angle (>90o).

2. In the figure shown, find the length of side z.

ANSWERS TO PRACTICE SET:

1) x = 120o, y = 15o 2) z = 4 in