Additional Topics in
6 Trigonometry
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6.1 Law of Sines
Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
What You Should Learn
• Use the Law of Sines to solve oblique triangles
(AAS or ASA).
• Use the Law of Sines to solve oblique triangles
(SSA).
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Introduction
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Introduction
In this section let us solve oblique triangles—triangles that
have no right angles. As standard notation, the angles of a
triangle are labeled
A, B, and C
and their opposite sides are labeled
a, b, and c
as shown in the Figure.
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Introduction
To solve an oblique triangle, you need to know the
measure of at least one side and the measures of any two
other parts of the triangle—two sides, two angles, or one
angle and one side.
This breaks down into the following four cases.
1. Two angles and any side (AAS or ASA)
2. Two sides and an angle opposite one of them (SSA)
3. Three sides (SSS)
4. Two sides and their included angle (SAS)
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Introduction
The first two cases can be solved using the Law of Sines,
whereas the last two cases can be solved using the Law of
Cosines
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Introduction
The Law of Sines can also be written in the reciprocal form
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Example 1 – Given Two Angles and One Side–AAS
For the triangle shown,
C = 102.3, B = 28.7, and b = 27.4 feet.
Find the remaining angle and sides.
Solution:
The third angle of the triangle is
A = 180 – B – C
= 180 – 28.7 – 102.3
= 49.0.
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Example 1 – Solution cont’d
By the Law of Sines, you have
Using b = 27.4 produces
and
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Example 3 – Single-Solution Case–SSA
For the triangle in Figure 6.2, a = 22 inches, b = 12 inches,
and A = 42. Find the remaining side and angles.
One solution: a b
Figure 6.2
Solution:
By the Law of Sines, you have
Reciprocal form
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Example 3 – Solution cont’d
Multiply each side by b.
Substitute for A, a, and b.
Solve for acute angle B.
Now you can determine that
C 180 – 42 – 21.41
= 116.59
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Example 3 – Solution cont’d
Then find the remaining side.
Law of Sines
Multiply each side by sin C.
Substitute for a, A, and C.
Simplify.
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