Unit No: F3HW 11

Unit Title: Maths

Craft 2

4 Trigonometry
Sine and Cosine Rules

Engineering and Construction

 Engineering and Construction
F3HW 11 Maths Craft 2
SINE AND COSINE RULES

TRIGONOMETRIC RATIOS

Remember: The ‘word’ SOH CAH TOA is a helpful reminder.

In any right-angled triangle, the trigonometric ratios are defined as follows:

opposite adjacent opposite

sin x° = cos x° = tan x° =
hypotenuse hypotenuse adjacent

O A O
i.e. sin x° = --- cos x°= --- tan x° = ---
H H A

The ratios are used in Mathematics to calculate the lengths of sides or angles in and
RIGHT-ANGLED triangle as seen in the examples overleaf.

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F3HW 11 Maths Craft 2
Example 1 Find x°

In relation to the angle, we are given the

opposite and hypotenuse. Here we must
use the sine ratio.

O 7
sin x ° = --- = --- = 0.7
H 10

so x° = sin -1 (0.7) = 44.43° (2 d.p.)

Example 2 Find d

In relation to the angle this time, the sides

give opposite and adjacent. We must use
the tangent ratio.

O
tan x ° = ---
A
4
tan 32 ° = ===> tan32 ° x d = 4
d
4
d= ===> d = 6.4 cm
tan 32°

All practical examples where there is a right-angled triangle can be completed in this
way. However problems arise if there is no right angle. By dividing a diagram into
right-angled triangles, we can make use of the ratios but it is time-consuming as in
Example 3.

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F3HW 11 Maths Craft 2
Example 3 Calculate the length of BC.

Using the method above, we must first

form 2 right-angled triangles.

Now find the height, h . From ∆ ABD

h
sin 40° =
8
h = 8 x sin 40° = 5.14 cm

Now to calculate BC, from ∆ CBD:

h 5.14
sin 70° = ==> sin 70° =
BC BC

BC x sin 70° = 5.14

5.14
BC = = 5.47 cm
sin 70°

A much easier and quicker method is to use the Sine Rule.

The Sine Rule

The Sine Rule states that in any ∆ ABC,

a b c
--------- --------- ---------
sin A sin B sin C

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F3HW 11 Maths Craft 2
Note: If the angles of the triangle are named with the capital letters A, B and C,
then the opposite sides are named with the corresponding lower case
letters a, b and c respectively.

Sometimes to make the calculation easier, the sine rule may be used in the inverted
form:

sin A sin B sin C

--------- --------- ---------
a b c

The proof of the Sine Rule is as follows:

Angle at A is acute Angle at A is obtuse

In triangle ACD In triangle ACD
h h
sin A = sin (180° - A) =
b b
so h = asinB but sin (180° - A) = sinA

In triangle BCD In triangle BCD

h h
sin B = sin B =
a a
so h = asinB so h = asin B

In both cases
h = bsin A
h = asin B
so bsinA = asin B
(This avoids having to calculate the altitude).

bsinA = asinB
b sin A a sin B
becomes = (by dividing each side by sinA sinB)
sin A sin B sin A sin B
b a
so =
sin B sin A
a a
or =
sin A sin B

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F3HW 11 Maths Craft 2
By starting with a different altitude, you could prove that

a c
=
sin A sin C

a b c
In any triangle ABC, = =
sin A sin B sin C

This is called the sine rule.

Example 1 Calculate the length or RQ.

Step 1. Write down the sine rule for the

triangle

Tick off the values which you are given.

So use the ratios involving p and q only.

p 8
Step 2. =
sin 25° sin 75°

To simplify this equation, where two fractions are equal is to cross-multiply. This
involves multiplying the numerator on each side by the opposite denominator and
equating the results.

Here p x sin 75° = 8 x sin 25°

8 x sin 75° 8 x 0.423
p = = = 3.50 cm (2 d.p.)
sin 75° 0.966

i.e. The length of RQ is 3.50 cm

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F3HW 11 Maths Craft 2
Example 2 Two observers see an object in the sky. It is 400m from observer A
and 320m from observer B. The angle of elevation from B is 64°, find
the angle of elevation from A.

Solution Draw a diagram.

Write down the sine rule

The angle of elevation from observer A is 46.0°

Now try the following exercise.

EXERCISE 1

1. Calculate the length of AB. 2. Find the length of QR.

3. Find the length of AB. (Remember that 4. Calculate the size of the angle
the sum of the angles of a triangle is at P.
180°)

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F3HW 11 Maths Craft 2

5. Calculate the size of the angle at C.

There are certain triangles where it is not possible to use the sine rule immediately.

Example 3

p q r
When applying the sine rule, we get = =
sin p sin Q sin R
14 q 18
= =
i.e. sin P sin 125 sin R

As you can see, there is not enough information to use the rule. (The numerator and
denominator must BOTH be given).

To solve this problem, we have to use another rule – the Cosine Rule

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F3HW 11 Maths Craft 2
The Cosine Rule

The Cosine Rule states that any ∆ ABC,

a2 = b2 + c2 – 2 b c cos A

The proof is as follows:

Angle at A is acute Angle at A is obtuse

Using Pythagoras Theorem in triangle Using Pythagoras Theorem in triangle
BCD BCD.
a2 = h2 + (c - x)2 a2 = h2 + (c + x)2
a2 = h2 + c2 + x2 – 2cx a2 = h2 + c2 + x2 + 2cx
a2 = (h2 + x2) + c2 – 2cx a2 = (h2 + x2) + c2 + 2cx
b2 = h2 + x2 b2 = h2 + x2
a = b2 + c2 – 2cx
2
a = b2 + c2 + 2cx
2

x x
= cosA x = bcosA = cos(180 – A) = -cosA x = -bcosA
b b

so so

a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bcosA a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bcosA

In any triangle ABC, a2 = b2 + c2 –

2bcosA
This is called the cosine rule.

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F3HW 11 Maths Craft 2
Example 3

The length of PR is 28.44 (to 2 d.p.)

Now do the following exercise.

EXERCISE 2

1. Using the cosine rule, complete b2 = 2. Calculate the length of LN.

……..

3. Calculate the length of AB,

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F3HW 11 Maths Craft 2
Using the Cosine Rule given 3 sides

Sometimes the Cosine Rule is used to find an angle in a triangle when all three sides
are given. The Cosine Rule equation is re-arranged to make the angle the subject.

b2 + c 2 − a2
cos A =
2bc

Example 4 Calculate the largest angle in the triangle ∆ABC

AC is the longest side and so ∠ B will be the largest angle.

Stating the Cosine rule:

a2 + c 2 − b2
cos B =
2ac
5 2 + 8 2 − 12 2 − 55
cos B = = = -0.688
2x5x8 80

(Note: The value is negative because the angle is OBTUSE and the cosine value of
an obtuse angle is negative. You will learn more about this later).

∠B = 133.43° (2d.p.)

The largest angle in the triangle is 133.43°

EXERCISE 3

1. Using the cosine rule, complete cosR = 2. Calculate the size of angle N.
….

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F3HW 11 Maths Craft 2

3. Calculate the size of angle R. 4. Calculate the largest angle in triangle

Remember that cosines of ABC.
angles between 90° and 180°
are negative.

Sine or Cosine Rule

In the next exercise you select the correct rule to find the solutions.

EXERCISE 4c

Select the correct rule and complete the following questions:

1. Calculate the length of PR. 2. Calculate the size of angle C.

3. Calculate the size of angle L. 4. Calculate the length of QR.

EXERCISE 4
Answers
Exercise 1 1) 10.85 cm 2) 9.58 cm 3) 8.57 cm 4) 69.44° 5) 58.96°
Exercise 2 1) b2 = a2 + c2 – 2ac cos B 2) 4.17 cm 3) 12.80 cm
p 2 + q2 − r 2
Exercise 3 1) cos R = 2) 62.80° 3) 92.87 cm 4) 82.82°
2pq
Exercise 4 1) 4.52 cm 2) 100.29° 3) 31.31° 4)10.52c m

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F3HW 11 Maths Craft 2

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