Solving Oblique Triangles Oblique triangles are triangles who do not have a right angle. o Can be acute or obtuse.
Data Required for Solving Oblique Triangles 1. One side and two angles are known. (SSA or ASA) 2. Two sides and one angle which is not included between the two sides are known. (SSA *This case may lead to more than one triangle) 3. Two sides and the angle included between the two sides are known. (SAS) 4. The three sides are known. (SSS) We cannot have a case wherein there are three angles (AAA) since this leads to an infinite number of triangles.
Law of Sines:
sin A sin B sin C or alternatively, = = a b c
Example 1:
sin A sin B sin C = = a b c
C
To get C , subtract the sum of the other angles from 180 : C = 180 (63 + 74)
63
85
= 180 63 74
74
C = 43
Then use the Law of Sines to get the other sides:
sin A sin C sin63 sin 43 = = a c a 85 a= 85sin63 a = 111.0494673 111.05 sin 43 b=
sin B sin C sin74 sin 43 = = b c a 85 85sin63 b = 78.78765468 78.79 sin74
Example 2: Solve 1. 2.
ABC when B = 43 , C = 117 , and a = 80.23 .
Get the remaining angle: A = 180 43 117 = 20 . Use the Law of Sines to get the remaining sides.
sin B sin A sin 43 sin 20 = = b a b 80.23 b= 80.23sin 43 b = 159.9810113 159.98 sin 20 c=
sin C sin A sin117 sin 20 = = c a c 80.23 80.23sin117 c = 208.9313294 208.93 sin 20
Tip: You know a side or angle is included when the variables in the measurements dont repeat e.g. A, B and c. If they do repeat, it means that one of the measurements are not included in the other two e.g. a, c, and C .
Law of Cosines:
a 2 = b2 + c 2 2bc cos A b2 = a 2 + c 2 2 ac cos B c = a + b 2 ab cos C
2 2 2
or alternatively,
b2 + c 2 a 2 2bc 2 a + c 2 b2 cos B = 2 ac 2 a + b2 c 2 cos C = 2 ab cos A =
Example 1:
C
64 B= 34
A
45
1. Substitute the values with the corresponding variables. a. Solve the third side of the triangle: b. Use the alternate form of the cosine law to get the cosine of the remaining angles.
b2 = a 2 + c 2 2 ac cos B = 642 + 452 2(64)(45)(cos34) = 1345.743582 b = 1345.743582 = 36.6843779 36.68 c. Use the inverse cosine function to get the corresponding angle.
cos A =
b2 + c 2 a 2 2bc (36.6843779)2 + 452 642 = 2(36.6843779)(45) = 0.219668564
cos A = 0.219668564 A = cos 1 ( 0.219668564) = 102.689567 102.69
Tip: If you can, use as much decimal numbers as possible when inputting previously unknown measures like side b shown above. This can help in getting the most accurate values for the remaining sides and angles of the triangle.
d. You can just subtract the angles from 180 to get the remaining angles, or you may also choose to use the cosine law.
C = 180 34 102.69 or; = 43.31
cos C = 642 + (36.6843779)2 452 2(64)(36.6843779)
= 0.727647864 C = 43.31043304 43.31
The Ambiguous Case (SSA) It is used when two sides and one angle which is not included between the two sides are known. (SSA *This case may lead to more than one triangle) In these situations, we use the value h, which is equal to b i sin A .
When A is acute.
Illustration
b A
h=a
b h b A a h
b a h A
Condition No. of triangles
a<b a=h 1
a<b a<h 0 When A is obtuse or right.
a<b a>h 2
ab
1
Illustration
b
a b A A
Condition No. of triangles
a>b 1
ab 0
If A is obtuse or right, then: o No solution when a b o One solution when a > b We should also remember that 1 sin 1 and sine values of supplementary angles are equal.
If A is an acute angle and a < b, here are 3 possibilities. o One solution when a = b sin A or a = h o Two solutions when a > b sin A or a > h o No solutions when a < b sin A or a < h If A is acute and a b, there is one solution
One solution Given that a = 32, b = 20, A = 50 a is greater than b, therefore A > B .
Two solutions Given that a = 24, b = 36, A = 25 when you get the value of h, it is 22.2153. Therefore, a > h.
sin50 sin B = 32 20 sin B 0.478778 B 28.61 C = 180 28.61 50 = 100.39
No solution Given that a = 15.2, b = 20, A = 120 sin120 sin B = 15.2 23 This is impossible. sin B 1.3104
sin 25 sin B = 24 36 sin B 0.6339
B1 39.34 then get its supplement: B2 140.66
When B1 39.34 , then C1 = 180 25 39.34 = 115.66
sin 25 sin115.66 = 24 c C2 51.19
When B2 140.66 , then C2 = 180 25 140.66 = 14.34
sin 25 sin14.34 = 24 c C2 14.07
