Trigonometry: Using the Cosine Rule

Prior Knowledge:
• Using trigonometric ratios in right-angled triangles.
• Substitution into a formula.
• Rearranging a formula.
• Rounding to decimal places and significant figures.

Right-angled trigonometry allows you to find a missing angle or side in a right-angled triangle when
given two sides, or an angle and a side. However, you can also use the trigonometric functions to
find a missing side or angle in any triangle. One way to do this is by using the cosine rule:

a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bccosA

If you cover up the “– 2bccosA” term, you may notice that you’re left with Pythagoras’ theorem.
The cosine rule essentially uses that cosine term to apply Pythagoras’ theorem to non-right-angled
triangles.
You might also notice that, because we no longer have a right angle in our triangle, we have lost
any reference to the hypotenuse, and along with it, the opposite and adjacent sides. We are now
labelling our sides a, b and c and our angle A. As long as side a is opposite angle A, sides b and c
can be either way round.

c a

A
b

If angle A was 90°, side a would be the hypotenuse and 2bccosA would be equal to zero
(as cos(90°) = 0). You would be left with Pythagoras’ theorem: a2 = b2 + c2

You can use the cosine rule to find a missing side, as long as you know the opposite angle.

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 Trigonometry: Using the Cosine Rule
Example 1: Find the length of the missing side, x. Give your answer correct to 1d.p.

4cm x

62°
10cm

Start by labelling the sides:

b
a
4cm x

A
62°
10cm
c

Then, substitute into the formula:

a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bccosA
x2 = 42 + 102 – 2 × 4 × 10 × cos(62°)

Calculate a value for x2:

x2 = 116 – 80 × cos(62°)
x2 = 78.4422…

Finally, square root to find x:

x = 78.4422…
x = 8.9cm (to 1d.p.)

You can also use the cosine rule to find a missing angle. Rearranging the cosine rule formula
to find the angle is quite complicated so you may want to remember both the cosine rule for
finding an unknown side and the rearranged cosine rule for finding an unknown angle.

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 Trigonometry: Using the Cosine Rule
Example 2: Find angle x. Give your answer correct to 1d.p.

x
30mm
11mm

35mm

Label your sides:

x
b A
30mm
11mm
c

35mm
a

We are looking for the angle but, first, we need to rearrange the cosine rule:

a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bccosA Subtract b2 and c2 from both sides.

a2 – b2 – c2 = -2bccosA Divide both sides by -2bc.

2 2 2
cosA = a – b – c Multiply the fraction by -1 to tidy up (change the signs).
-2bc -1
2 2 2
cosA = b + c – a Take the inverse cosine of both sides.
2bc
2 2 2
A = cos-1(b + c – a )
2bc

We can now substitute our values to find x:

2 2 2
x = cos-1(30 + 11 – 35 )
2 × 30 × 11

x = cos-1(-204)
660

x = 108.0° (to 1d.p.)

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 Trigonometry: Using the Cosine Rule
Your turn
1. In each question, find the value of x. Give your answers correct to 1d.p.

a. b.

x
175mm 5.2m
1.2m
25°
250mm x
5m
 

 

 

 

 

c. d.
13cm
x
15cm 65km x
23cm
33°
100km

 

 

 

 

 

e. f.

40cm 87°
27cm 14m
12m

x x
5m

 

 

 

 

 

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 Trigonometry: Using the Cosine Rule

2. A ship leaves Santander, sails 150km due north, then turns to a bearing of 050° and sails a
further 250km before landing at Royan. How far is Royan from Santander, to the nearest
kilometre?

3. Find the size of the angle, x. Give your answer to 3s.f.

5m 8m

x 27°
7m
11m

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 Trigonometry: Using the Cosine Rule

4. Find the length of side x. Give your answer to the nearest metre.

35°

25m 35m

15m x

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