Chapter 4.

7
Solutions of
Triangles

Trigonometric Functions
Let be an angle whose initial side is the
positive x axis. If x,y is a point on the
terminal side that is r units away from the
origin, then the six trigonometric functions
are defined as
sin

y
r

csc

r
y

cos

x
r

tan

y
x

sec

r
x

cot

x
y

 x,y

Right Triangles
B

c
A

a b c
2

a
C

A B C 180

b,a

c
A

a
C

a opp
sinA
c hyp
b adj
cosA
c hyp
a opp
tanA
b adj

a b c

A B C 180

opp
sinA
hyp

adj
cosA
hyp

opp
tanA
adj

Solving Triangles

To solve a triangle means to fine the lengths of

all sides and the measures of all angles.

Example 4.7.1
Solve the triangle where A 61.7o,C 90o, and c 106.2.
B

A B C 180o

c 106.2

B 180 61.7 90
o

28.3o
A 61.7o

C 90o

opp
sinA
hyp

adj
cosA
hyp

a
sin 61.7
106.2
a 106.2sin 61.7o 93.5

b
cos 61.7
106.2
b 106.2cos 61.7o 50.3

Angle of Elevation
The angle between the horizontal and a line
of sight above the horizontal is called an
angle of elevation.

Angle of Depression
The angle between the horizontal and a line
of sight below the horizontal is called an
angle of depression.

Example 4.7.2
To measure cloud altitude
at night, a vertical beam
of light is directed on a
spot on the cloud. From a
point 135 ft away from
the light source, the
angle of elevation to the
spot is found to be
67.35o. Find the distance
of the cloud from the
ground.

h
tan 67.35
135
h 135tan 67.35o 324 ft
o

Conclusion:
The cloud is approximately
324 ft above the ground.

Example 4.7.3
An aerial photographer who photographs farm
properties for a real estate company has
determined from experience that the best photo is
taken at a height of approximately 475 ft and a
distance of 850 ft from the farmhouse. What is the
angle of depression from the plane to the house.

475
850
475
o
B Arcsin

34

850
Conclusion:
The angle of depression from the airplane is
sinB

approximately 34o.

Oblique Triangles

A triangle with no right angle is called oblique.

C
b

a
B

Law of Sines
In any triangle, the ratio of a side and the
sine of the opposite angle is a constant.
a
b
c

sinA sinB sinC

sinA sinB sinC

a
b
c

Law of Cosines
In a triangle, the square of a side is the sum of
the squares of the other two sides, minus twice
the product of those sides and the cosine of the
included angle.
c a b 2abcosC
2
2
2
a b c 2bccosA
2
2
2
b a c 2accosB
2

Example 4.7.4
Solve the following triangles.
1. a 12, A 45 , C 75
o

A B C 180

B 180 45 75 60
o

a
c

sinA sinC
12
c

o
o
sin45 sin75
12sin75o
c
16.4
o
sin45

a 12, A 45 , C 75
o

B 60

c 16.4
a
b

sinA sinB
12
b

o
o
sin45 sin75
12sin75o
b
14.7
o
sin45

2. a 32, c 48, B 125.2

b2 a2 c2 2accosB
b 32 48 2 32 48 cos125.2o
2

b 71.4
a2 b2 c2 2bccosA

32 71.4 48 2 71.4 48 cosA

2
2
2 71.4 48 cosA 71.4 48
2
2
71.4 48

cosA
2 71.4 48
71.4 2 48 2
A Arccos
21.5o
2 71.4 48

a 32, c 48, B 125.2

b 71.4
A 21.5

A B C 180

C 180 21.5 125.2 33.3

o

3. a 3.5, b 4.7, c 2.8

a b c 2bccosA
2

3.5 4.7 2.8 2 4.7 2.8 cosA

2
2
2
2 4.7 2.8 cosA 4.7 2.8 3.5
2
2
2
4.7 2.8 3.5

cosA
2 4.7 2.8
2

A 47.80

a 3.5, b 4.7, c 2.8

A 47.80

b a c 2accosB
2

4.7 3.5 2.8 2 3.5 2.8 cosB

2
2
2
2 3.5 2.8 cosB 3.5 2.8 4.7
2
2
2
3.5 2.8 4.7

cosB
2 3.5 2.8
2

B 95.86

a 3.5, b 4.7, c 2.8

A 47.80

B 95.86

A B C 180

C 180 47.80 95.86 36.34

o