LAW OF SINES

Oblique Triangle – a triangle that does not contain any right angle.

In any triangle ABC, the sides are proportional to the sines of their opposite angles.

In symbol:

Sine A Sine B SineC a b c

= = or = =
a b c Sine A Sine B SineC
B

c a

A b C

Three Cases:

A. SAA Case (Side – Angle – Angle)

B

c = 20 100 a

A b 50 C

To find the <B, To find a, To find b,

a b 20 a b 20
<A + <B + <C = 180 = = = =
Sine 30 Sine 100 Sine50 Sine 30 Sine 100 Sine50
a 20 b 20
<A + 100 + 50 = 180 = =
Sine 30 Sine 50 Sine 100 Sine 50
a Sine 50 20 Sine 30 b Sine 50 20 Sine100
<A + 150 = 180 = =
Sine 50 Sine 50 Sine 50 Sine 50
10 19.7
<A = 180 – 150 a= a=
0.77 0.77
<A = 30 a = 12.99 a = 25.58

B. ASA Case (Angle – Side – Angle

c = 15 110 a

A 25 b C

To find <C, To find a, To find b,

 a b 15 a b 15
<A + <B + <C = 180 = = = =
Sine 25 Sine 110 Sine 45 Sine 25 Sine 110 Sine 45
a 15 b 15
25+ 110 + <C = 180 = =
Sine 25 Sine 45 Sine 110 Sine 45
a Sine 45 15 Sine 25 b Sine 45 15 Sine 110
135 + <C = 180 = =
Sine 45 Sine 45 Sine 45 Sine 45
6.34 14.1
<C = 180 – 135 a= b=
0.71 0.71
<C = 45 a = 8.93 b = 19.86

C. SSA Case (Side – Side – Angle)

c = 30 a = 20

A 35 b C

To find C To find <B, To find b,

20 b 30
= = <A + <B + <C = 180
Sine 35 Sine B SineC
20 b 30
= =
Sine 35 Sine 85.68 Sine 59.32
20 30 20 b
= 35 + <B + 59.32 = 180 =
Sine 35 Sine C Sine 35 Sine 85.68
20 Since C 30 Sine 35
= 94.32 + <B = 180
20 20
20 Sine 85.68 b Sine 35
=
Sine 35 Sine 35
17.21 19.94
Sine C= <B = 180 – 94.32 b=
20 0.57
Sine C = 0.86 <B = 85.68 b = 34.98

<C = 59.32