Math 181 S.

Nunamaker

MATH 181-Oblique Triangles and Vectors ( 11 )

*Before we get into solving for oblique triangles, let's have a quick refresher on
solving for right triangles' problems:

Solving a Right Triangle

I. If we are given three parts of a triangle (at least one is a side), we are able to

find the other three parts. For consistency, let’s label the acute angles of a

right triangle as A and B and label the right angle as C. The letter a, b, and c

will denote the sides opposite these angles, respectively (ex. Side c is the

hypoteneuse of the right triangle).

a b a b c c
\sin A = cos A = tan A = cot A = sec A = csc A =
c c b a b a

b a b a c c
sin B = cos B = tan B = cot B = sec B = csc B =
c c a b a b

*Note: sin A = cos B tan A = cot B sec A = csc B

\Conjunctions of acute complementary angles are equal.

II. Procedures for Solving a Right Triangle

A. Sketch a right triangle and label the known and unknown sides and angles.

B. Express each of the three unknown parts in terms of the known parts and

solve for the unknown parts.

C. Check the results. The sum of the angles should be 180°. If only one side

is given, check the computed side with the Pythagorean Theorem. If two

sides are given, check the angles and computed side by using appropriate

trigonometric functions.

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

ex. Finding side a (given A = 50° and b = 6.7 ) and , knowing that

a
tan A = , \a = b tan A = 6.7 tan 50° = 798
.
b

Finding side c (given A = 50° and b = 6.7 )and. knowing that

b b 6.7 6.7
cos A = ,\c = = = = 10.4
c cos A cos 50° 0643
.

Finding angle B (given a right triangle with an angle = 50° ), knowing

that the sum of three angles would be 180°,\B = 180°-90°-50° = 40°

or B = 90°- A = 90°-50° = 40°

Checking the angles: A + B + C = 50°+40°+90° = 180°

Checking the sides: 10.4 2 = 798

. 2 + 6.7 2® 10816
. = 6368
. + 4489
. ®

108.16 = 10857
. (accepatable)

slight variation due to rounding

*General rule: the longest side is always opposite the largest angle, and the

shortest side is always opposite the smallest angle. In right

triangle, the hypoteneuse is always the longest side.

******

Applications of Right Triangles

I. Angle of elevation: angle between the horizontal and the line of sight, when

the object is above the horizontal.

ex. If the angle of elevation is 20° at a distance of 1000 ft from the base of

a building, how high is this building?

h
tan20° =
1000 ft

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

\h = tan 20° (1000 ft ) = 036

. (1000 ft ) = 360 ft

(Result is rounded off to 2 significant digits

because the data is only good to 2 sig. digits)

II. Angle of depression: angle between the horizontal and the line of sight,

when the object is below the horizontal.

ex. If a plane is 2500 ft above the ground (above a football field) and the

angle of depression of the north goal line from the plane is 58.5°. How

far is the observer in the plane from the goal line?

2500 2500 ft
= cos 315
. ° \d = = 2930 ft
d cos 315
.°

*Remember the number of significant figures

******

Solving Oblique Triangles, Using the Law of Sines

Oblique triangles: Triangles that do not contain a right angle.

I. We need to know three parts and at least one of them a side, in order to

solve a triangle. There are four possible combinations of parts:

A. Two angles and one side.

B. Two sides and the angle opposite one of them.

C. Two sides and the included angle.

D. Three sides.

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

II. Derivation of Law of Sines

Let ABC be an oblique triangle with sides a, b, and c opposite angles A,

B, and C, respectively. By drawing a perpendicular h from B to side b, or

its extension, we can see that:

h = c sin A or h = a sin C

h = c sin A or h = a sin(180°-C ) = a sin C

a c
\ c sin A = a sin C or =
sin A sin C

By dropping a perpendicular from A to a, we also derive this result:

b c
c sin B = b sin C or =
sin B sin C

\For any triangle with sides a, b, and c, opposite angles A, B, and C,

a b c
respectively, we have the Law of Sines: = =
sin A sin B sin C

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

III. Examples:

A. Two angles and one side.

Given: a = 15, A = 15° , B = 140°

Find: b, c, C

Solution: ( 1 ): C = 180°-(15°+140° ) = 25°

a b c 15 b c
( 2 ): = = ®® = =
sin A sin B sin C sin15° sin140° sin 25°

15 b
Since = ®® 15(sin140° ) = b(sin15° )
sin15° sin140°

15(sin140° )
\b = = 3725
.
sin15°
useb = 37

15 c
( 3 ):Since = ®® c(sin15° ) = 15(sin 25° )
sin15° sin 25°

15(sin 25° )
\c = = 24.49
sin15°

use c = 25

B. Two sides and an angle opposite one of them

Given: a = 5240
. , b = 4.446, B = 4813
. °

Find: c, A, C

a b 5240
. 4.446
Solution: ( 1 ): = ®® =
sin A sin B sin A sin 4813
. °

.
5240 4.446
Since = ®® 4.446(sin A) = 5240
. (sin 48.13° )
sin A sin 4813
. °

5240
. (sin 4813
. °)
\A = sin -1 ( ) = sin -1 (.8776) = 6136°
.
4.446

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

*Note: sin A =.8776

\A = 61.36° or 118.6°

( 2 ): w / A = 6136
. °:
C = 180 - ( B + A) ®® 180 - ( 4813
. °+6136
. ° ) = 7051
. °

c a c 5240
.
( 3 ):w / A = 6136
. °: = ®® =
sin C sin A sin 7051
. ° sin 6136
. °

Since
c 5240
.
= ®® c(sin 6136
. ° ) = 5240
. (sin 7051
. °)
sin 7051
. ° sin 6136
. °

5240
. (sin 7051
. °)
\c = = 5628
.
sin 6136
. °

*Now, replace A = 118.6°, using the same steps, C = 13.23° , c = 1.366

******

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

Solving Oblique Triangles, Using the Law of Cosines

a 2 = b 2 + c 2 - 2 bc cos A
b 2 = a 2 + c 2 - 2 ac cos B
c 2 = a 2 + b 2 - 2 ab cos C

I. Examples

A. Two sides and the included angle

Given: a = 4530, b = 924, C = 98.0°

Find: A, B, c

Solution: ( 1 ):using Law of Cosines in the form c 2 = a 2 + b 2 - 2ab cos C

c 2 = a 2 + b 2 - 2ab cos C ®® c 2 = 4530 2 + 924 2 - 2( 4530)(924)cos 98.0°

\c 2 = 20520900 + 853776 - ( -1165079) = 22539755

\c = 4747 Or use c = 4750

a c 4530 4750
( 2 ):using Law of Sines: = ®® =
sin A sin C sin A sin 980
.°

. ° ) = 4750(sin A)
\4530(sin 980

4530(sin 980
. °)
\sin A = = 09444,
. A = sin -1 (09444
. ) = 708
.°
4750

b c 924 4750
( 3 ): using Law of Sines: = ®® =
sin B sin C sin B sin 980
.°

\924(sin 980
. ° ) = 4750(sin B)

924(sin 980
. °)
\sin B = = 01926
. , B = sin -1 ((01926
. ) = 111
.°
4750

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

B. Three sides

Given: a = 385.4, b = 467.7, c = 800.9

Find: A, B, C

Solution: ( 1 ):using Law of Cosines in the form a 2 = b 2 + c 2 - 2bc cos A

\ 385.4 2 = 467.7 2 + 800.9 2 - 2( 467.7)(800.9)cos A

\ 148533 = 218743 + 641440 - 749162cos A

\ cos A = 0.9499, A = cos -1 ( 0.9499) = 18.21°

a b 385.4 467.7
( 2 ): using Law of Sines: = ®® =
sin A sin B sin1821
. ° sin B

467.7(sin1821
. °)
\385.4(sin B) = 467.7(sin1821
. ° )®® sin B = = 03792
.
385.4

\ B = sin -1 ( 0.3792) = 22.28°

( 3 ):C = 180 - ( A + B) = 180 - (1821

. °+2228
. ° ) = 139° .51

***General Rule:
a b c
1. Use Law of Sines ( = = ) for problems involving SSA or AAS.
sin A sin B sin C

*SSA: two sides and an angle opposite one of them.

* The SSA case requires special consideration. If the side opposite the given angle is

a. greater than the known adjacent side, there is only one possible triangle.

b. less than the known adjacent side but greater than the altitude, there are two
possible triangles.

c. less than the altitude, there is no possible triangle.

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

*AAS: two angles and a side opposite one of them.

2. As a final check:

a. always choose a given value over a calculated value for doing calculations.

b. always check your results to see that the largest angle is opposite the largest side
and that the smallest angle is opposite the smallest side.

a 2 = b 2 + c 2 - 2bc cos A
3. Use Law of Cosines: (b 2 = a 2 + c 2 - 2ac cos B) for problems involving SAS or SSS.
c 2 = a 2 + b 2 - 2ab cos C

Introduction to Vectors
I. Scalar quantity: magnitude of the quantity, number to represent amount of

certain measurements. (ex.: length, width, temperature, area, speed, etc.)

Scalar quantity is represented by lightface A.

II. Vector quantity: quantity that is described by both its magnitude and

Direction. (ex.: velocity, force, etc..), Vector is represented by A or A

* speed ( 500 mi/h )

velocity ( 500 mi/h in a direction 30° north of west)

III. Vector Additions

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

A. Vector sum of A+B is the R. R is called the resultant, from initial

point O to terminal point Q. Resultant is a single vector that is

the vector sum of any number of other vectors..

B. Polygon Method/Vector Triangle Method: Sum of A+B is R

can be drawn from the tail of A to the head of B.

C. Parallelogram Method: let two vectors being added be the sides of a

Parallelogram (tail to tail). Resultant is the diagonal of the parallelo-

gram. Initial point of the resultant is the common initial point of the

vectors being added.

D. Two vectors in different locations are same if they have the same

magnitude and direction.

E. Scalar Multiple of vector A, nA, is a vector n times as long as A, but in

the same direction.

F. Consider A-B as A+(-B).

IV. Displacement

A. The distance from a reference point and the angle from a reference

direction.

B. Displacement is a vector quantity.

C. If a traveler travels away from the reference point for a given amount

of distance and direction (angle) from the reference point and then

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

returns to the reference point. Its displacement from the reference

point would be zero.

V. Examples:

A. Which is a scalar or a vector:

1. A boat sailed 2 miles/min.

2. A boat sailed 10 miles/min toward northeast.

3. Joey is running away from the school bully at 0.125 mile/min

northward heading home.

B. Using parallelogram method to figure out the resultant.

(Sum of 2 or 3 vectors )

C. Solve: A ship travels 20 km in a direction of 30° south of east and

then turns due south for another 40 km. What is the ship’s dis-

placement from its initial position?

D. Solve: Two forces that act on an airplane wing are called the lift

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

and drag. Find the resultant of lift of 800 lbs. And drag of 300 lbs.

VI. Vector Components

I. Components of the original vector: vectors, when added together, have a

resultant equal to the given vectors.

A. Initial points of these components are at the origin. Terminal points

are located at the points where perpendicular lines from the terminal

point of the given vector across the axes.

B. Resolving the vector into its components: finding component vectors.

Ax
C. Example: Given vector A, A x is related to A by: = cosq
A
Ay
A y Is related to A by: = sinq
A

\Ax = Acosq A y = A sinq

D. Steps used in finding the x- and y- components:

1. Place vector A such that q is in standard position.

2. Calculate Ax and A y from Ax = A cosq and A y = A sinq. We may

use the reference angle if we note the direction of the component.

3. Check the components to see if each is in the correct direction and

has a magnitude that is proper for the reference angle.

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

E. Try to resolve each vector into its x- and y-components:

1. Vector A of magnitude 350 and direction q = 200°

2. Vector with magnitude 2.65 and direction q = 197.3°

F. Example problems:

1. At one point the Pioneer space probe was entering the gravi-

tational field of Jupiter at an angle of 2.55° below the horizontal

with a velocity of 18,550 mi/h. What were the components of its

Velocity?

2. Two upward forces are acting on a bolt. One force of 60.5 lb acts

at an angle of 80.0° above the horizontal, and the other force of

35.2 lb acts at an angle of 50.0° below the first force. What is the

total upward force on the bolt?

******

Application of Vectors/Vector Addition by Components

I. To add vectors, use the components of the vector, the Pythagorean theorem,

and the tangent of the standard position angle of the resultant.

*A vector is not completely specified unless both its components and its

direction are given.

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

Ex. If two vectors ( .A = 15.1 and B = 8.25 ) are at right angles, we can find

the resultant vector R by using Pythagorean theorem.

1. Magnitude of R: R= A 2 + B 2 = 151
. 2 + 8.252 = 17.2

B B
2. Direction of R: tanq = \ q = tan -1 ( )
A A

II. Procedure for Adding Vectors by Components

1. Resolve the given vectors into x- and y-components.

2. Add the x-components to obtain R x ;add the y-components to obtain R y .

3. Find the magnitude of the resultant R, using R = Rx 2 + R y 2

4. Find the standard-position angle q for the resultant R. First find the

Ry
reference angle q ref for the resultant R by using tanq ref =
Rx

Ry
\ q ref = tan -1
Rx

III. Examples: Find the resultant of two vectors: A = 1200, q A = 250.0°,

B = 1550, and q b = 125.0°.

Step 1.: Ax = A cos 250.0° = 1200 cos 250.0° = -410.4

Bx = B cos 125.0° = 1550 cos 125.0° = -889.0

A y = A sin 250.0° = 1200 sin 250.0° = -1128

B y = B sin 125.0° = 1550 sin 125.0° = 1270

Step 2: Rx = Ax + Bx = -410.4 + -889.0 = -1299

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

R y = A y + B y = -1128 + 1270 = 142

Step 3: R = Rx 2 + R y 2 = ( -1299) 2 + 142 2 = 1307

Ry 142 142
Step 4: tanq ref = = q ref = tan -1 ( ) = -6.239°
Rx -1299 -1299

Since Rx is negative and R y is positive, q is a second-quadrant

angle. \ q = 180°-6.239° = 153.8°

IV. Try to find the resultant of the three vectors given: A = 6.4,q A = 126°,

B = 5.9, q B = 238° , C = 3.2,qC = 72°

***General Rule

1. Vector problems may be solved:

a. graphically using

i. parallelogram method or

ii. vector triangle method/polygon method

b. algebraically using the law of sines and/or the law of cosines;or

c. by the component method

2. Given v and angle q, the horizontal and vertical components are found as:

2 2 vy
vx = v cos q v y = v sinq v= vx + vy reference angle a: tana =
vx

*angle q in standard position is determined from angle a and the quadrant in which v lies.

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Math 181 S. Nunamaker

3. Component method of adding vectors: To find the resultant vector R of two or more
vectors

using the component method:

a. find the horizontal component, Rx , of vector R, by finding the algebraic sum of the

horizontal components of each of the vectors being added.

b. find the vertical component, R y , of vector R, by finding the algebraic sum of the

vertical components of each of the vectors being added.

2 2
c. find the length of R : R = Rx + Ry

Ry
d. find the angle q, first find a, the reference angle. tana =
Rx

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