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OBLIQUE TRIANGLE

-a triangle that does not contain a right triangle


-to solve an oblique triangle, we need a measure of one side and any other two measures

THE LAW OF SINES


If , , and are the angles of any triangle, and a, b, and c are respectively, the measures of the sides opposite these angles, then
a b c sin sin sin

180

As with a right triangle, the vertices of oblique triangles are labeled A, B, and C, and the measures of the sides opposite them are designated by a, b, and c, respectively. The angles at the vertices A, B, and C are denoted by , , and , respectively.
B B c a c A b C A

LAW OF SINES 2 CASES 1.) measures of two angles and a side 2.) measures of two sides and an angle opposite one of them

CASE I
a b c sin sin sin

180

PROBLEM: Solve the triangle. Express the results to the number of significant digits justified by the given information. = 48.6 , = 61.4 , c= 53.2 SOLUTION
B c A b a C

Solve for the value of b:


c b sin sin

c (sin ) b sin

b= ((53.2)(sin48.6)/sin61.4) b= 45.5 Solve for the value of :

180
=180- = 180- 48.6 - 61.4 = 70.0

Solve for the value of a: c (sin ) a sin a= ((53.2)(sin70.0)/sin61.4) a= 56.9

CASE II
a b c sin sin sin

180
4 POSSIBILITIES 1. a < bsin (no triangle possible) 2. a = bsin (one triangle possible) 3. bsin < a < b (two triangles possible) 4. a b (one triangle possible)

b
C

POSSIBILITY I 1. a < bsin (no triangle possible)


C b a bsin

POSSIBILITY II 2. a = bsin (one triangle possible)


C b a A bsin

POSSIBILITY III 3. bsin < a < b (two triangle possible)


C b A a B2 a bsin

B1

POSSIBILITY III 4. a b (one triangle possible)


C b A

a
B

bsin

b
C

AREA OF TRIANGLE
B c a

The measure of the area of a triangle is one-half the product of the measures of two sides and the sine of the angle included between the two sides. 1

(a )(b sin )

LAW OF COSINES
use if measures of two sides and the angle included between them are known
-

If , , and are the angles of any triangle, and a, b, and c are respectively, the measures of the sides opposite these angles, then c 2 a 2 b 2 2 ab c os b 2 a 2 c 2 2 ac c os a 2 b 2 c 2 2bc c os
c 2 a

LAW OF COSINES 2 CASES 1.)measures of two sides and the angle included between them are known 2.)measures of three sides are known
B c a

PROBLEM: Solve the triangle. Express the results to the number of significant digits justified by the given information. a=11.2 , b= 15.3 , = 116.4 SOLUTION:
B

Solve for the value of c:


c a C b A

c a b 2ab cos
2 2 2

c a b 2ab cos
2 2 2

C2 = (11.2)2 + (15.3)2 - 2(11.2)(15.3)cos(116.4) C = 22.6 Solve for : Use Law of Sines

a c sin sin
sin= ((a)sin/c) sin = (11.2)(sin 116.4)/22.6 Sin = 0.4439

=26.4 solve for the value of : + + = 180 = 180- = 180 - 26.4 - 116.4 =37.2

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