13.

5 Law of Cosines

4/13/07

Law of Cosines used when you are given the measures of two sides and the included angle of a triangle. - cannot use law of Sines. Let VABC be any triangle with a, b, and c representing the measures of sides, and opposite angles with measures A, B, and C respectively. Then, the following equations B are true. a2 = b2 + c2 2bc cos A b2 = a2 + c2 2ac cos B
A b C c a

c2 = a2 + b2 2ab cos C

Solve a Triangle Given Two Sides and Included Angle

Solve VABC. A You are given the measures of two sides and the included angle. Begin by using the Law of Cosines to determine c.
B

24

18 57

c ! a  b  2ab cos C

c ! 18  24  2(18)(24) cos 57

c } 429.4

c } 20.7

 Next you can use the Law of Sines to find the measure of angle A.

sin A sin 57 ! 18 20.7 o 18sin 57 sin A } 20.7

sin A sin C ! a c o

sin A } 0.7293
Therefore,

A } angle B is approx. 180 - (57 + 47) = 76. 47 The measure of

c } 20.7, A } 47 , B } 76
o o

 Solve VABC.
2 2 2

Solve a Triangle Given Three Sides

B 15 7

a ! b  c  2bc cos A
2 2 2

15 ! 9  7  2(9)(7) cos A

15  9  7 ! 2(9)(7)cos A 2 2 2 15  9  7 ! cos A 2(9)(7)

0.7540 } cos A

A } 139

 Use the Law of Sines to find the measure of angle B.

Solve a Triangle Given Three Sides

sin B sin A ! b a
sin B sin139o } 9 15

9sin139 sin B } 15

sin B } 0.3936 o B } 23

C } 180  (139  23 ) } 18
Therefore,

A } 139o, B } 23o, C } 18o.

Choose the Method

Solving an Oblique Triangle Given Two angles and any side Two sides and an angle opposite one of them Two sides and their included angle Three sides Begin by Using Law of Sines Law of Sines Law of Cosines Law of Cosines

More Practice!!!!
Textbook p. 736 #10 26 even Homework Worksheet 13.5