West Visayas State University

College Of Education
Graduate School
Luna St. La Paz, Iloilo City


Oblique Triangles

Learning Competency: Solve problems involving oblique plane triangles.

Oblique Triangles
- A plane triangle which does not contain a right angle.

To solve the unknown parts of an oblique triangle, one must use:

1. Sine Law the sides of a triangle are proportional to the sines of the opposite angles.

2. Cosine Law the square of any side of a triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of
the other sides minus twice the product of these two sides times the cosine of the
angle between these two sides.

Finding the missing side
a
2
= b
2
+ c
2
2bc cos A
b
2
= a
2
+ c
2
2ac cos B
c
2
= a
2
+ b
2
2ab cos C

Finding the missing angle

)




West Visayas State University
College Of Education
Graduate School
Luna St. La Paz, Iloilo City



Examples

Note: Scientific Calculator is needed. (fx-350ES PLUS or fx-991ES PLUS)

1.) Solve a triangle ABC, given the following parts: a = 450, A = 11
0
20 , B = 43
0
34.
Figure: B
c
a=450

A C
b
Find side b.

Substitute the value of a, B and A.

450 x 43 34 ) 11 34 )

The result on your calculator will be 1578.182909
Round off the answer into two decimal places only. This will become 1 578.183

Then b=1 578.183

2.) Determine the value of angle C, given the following parts: a = 25, c = 30, b = 23.72
B
Figure:
c = 30 a = 25

A C
b = 23.72




sin

43
0
34

11
0
20

sin




=
West Visayas State University
College Of Education
Graduate School
Luna St. La Paz, Iloilo City


Find angle C.

)

Substitute the value of a, B and A.

)

cos 25 + 23.72 - 30 2 25 23.75



The result on your calculator will be 75
0
5441.25
Round off the answer, This will become 75
0
55

Then C=75
0
55

) X
SHIFT

X

=