In Exercises 1–12, solve each triangle. Round lengths to the nearest tenth and angle measures to the nearest degree. If no triangle exists, state 'no triangle.' If two triangles exist, solve each triangle. B = 66°, a = 17, c = 12
Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 45m
- 1. Measuring Angles40m
- 2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
- 3. Unit Circle1h 19m
- 4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
- 5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
- 6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
- 7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
- 8. Vectors2h 25m
- 9. Polar Equations2h 5m
- 10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
- 11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m
7. Non-Right Triangles
Law of Cosines
Problem 5
Textbook Question
In Exercises 1–8, solve each triangle. Round lengths of sides to the nearest tenth and angle measures to the nearest degree.
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the type of triangle problem you are dealing with: whether it is a right triangle or an oblique triangle (non-right). This will determine which trigonometric methods to use.
List the given information from the problem: known sides and angles. This is essential to decide which formulas or laws to apply.
If the triangle is right-angled, use basic trigonometric ratios (sine, cosine, tangent) to find missing sides or angles. For example, use \(\sin \theta = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}}\), \(\cos \theta = \frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypotenuse}}\), or \(\tan \theta = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}\).
If the triangle is oblique, apply the Law of Sines or Law of Cosines depending on the known elements:
- Law of Sines: \(\frac{a}{\sin A} = \frac{b}{\sin B} = \frac{c}{\sin C}\)
- Law of Cosines: \(c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab \cos C\) (and similarly for other sides).
After calculating the missing sides and angles, round the side lengths to the nearest tenth and the angle measures to the nearest degree as instructed.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Types of Triangles and Their Properties
Understanding whether a triangle is right, acute, or obtuse is essential because it determines which trigonometric rules apply. Recognizing side lengths and angle measures helps in selecting appropriate methods for solving the triangle.
Recommended video:
Review of Triangles
Law of Sines and Law of Cosines
These laws are fundamental for solving triangles when not all sides and angles are known. The Law of Sines relates ratios of sides to the sines of opposite angles, while the Law of Cosines generalizes the Pythagorean theorem for any triangle.
Recommended video:
Intro to Law of Cosines
Rounding and Angle Measurement
Accurate rounding of side lengths to the nearest tenth and angles to the nearest degree ensures clarity and precision in answers. Understanding how to convert between degrees and radians and use a calculator correctly is important for final results.
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Reference Angles on the Unit Circle
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