1. 6.2
The Law of Cosines

2. SAS AAA SSS Let's consider types of triangles with the
three given measurements:
We can't use the Law of Sines on these because we don't have an angle and a side opposite it. We need another method for SAS and SSS triangles.
SAS
AAA
You may have a side, an angle, and then another side
You may have all three angles.
This case doesn't determine a triangle because similar triangles have the same angles and shape but different (proportional) sides
SSS
You may have all three sides

3. LAW OF COSINES Law of Cosines Use these formulas to find missing sides
and angles
LAW OF COSINES C a b A B c

4. Solve a triangle where b = 1, c = 3 and A = 80°
Example 1.
Solve a triangle where b = 1, c = 3 and A = 80° B 3
Draw a picture. a
80 ° A C
This is SAS 1
minus 2 times the product of those other sides
times the cosine of the angle between those sides
One side squared
sum of each of the other sides squared
Do we know an angle and side opposite it?
No, so we must use Law of Cosines.
Hint: we will be solving for the side opposite the angle we know.

5. a = 2.99 Example 1. Solve a triangle where b = 1, c = 3 and A = 80° B
80 ° A 1
minus 2 times the product of those other sides
times the cosine of the angle between those sides
sum of each of the other sides squared
One side squared
a = 2.99

6. B = 18.85° C = 81.15° We'll label side a with the value we found. B 3
We now have all of the sides but how can we find an angle? 3
18.85°
2.99
Hint: We have an angle and a side opposite it.
80°
81.15° A C 1
Angle B is easy to find since the sum of the angles is a triangle is 180°
180 – 80 – = 18.85°
B = 18.85°
C = 81.15°

7. Solve a triangle where a = 5, b = 8 and c = 9
Example 2.
Solve a triangle where a = 5, b = 8 and c = 9
This is SSS
Draw a picture. B
Do we know an angle and side opposite it?
No, so we must use Law of Cosines. 9 5
84.3 C A 8
Let's use largest side to find largest angle first.

8. C = 84.3° Example 2. B 9 5 84.3 A C 8 One side squared
minus 2 times the product of those other sides
times the cosine of the angle between those sides
sum of each of the other sides squared
One side squared

9. Example 2. B 9
62.2
Do we know an angle and side opposite it? 5
33.5
84.3 A C
Yes, so use Law of Sines. 8
A = 33.5°
B = 62.2°

10. Another Area Formula (given SSS)
The law of cosines can be used to derive a formula for the area of a triangle given the lengths of three sides known as Heron’s Formula.
Heron’s Formula
If a triangle has sides of lengths a, b, and c
Then the area of the triangle is

11. Solve the ∆ABC given following:
1) b = 40, c = 45, A = 51°
a = 36.87, B = 57.47°, C = 71.53°
2) B= 42°, a= 120, c=160
b = , A = 48.58°, C = 89.42°
3) a =20, b= 12, c = 28
B = 21.79°, A = 89.79°, C = 120°
4) a= 15, b= 18, c = 17
B = 68.12°, A = 50.66°, C = 61.22°