SOLUTION OF TRIANGLES

2.2

Use Cosine Rule to find the unknown sides or angles of a triangle.

b2 c2 a 2
2bc
a2 c2 b2
cos B
2ac
2
a b2 c2
cos C
2ab
cos A

Task 1 : Find the unknown side of a triangle when two sides and an included angle are
given.
(1) Diagram 1 shows the triangle PQR
Solution :
such
that PR =12.3 cm , QR =16.4 cm and
x 2 16.4 2 12.3 2 2(16.4)(12.3) cos 67 0
PRQ = 67 .

= 262.1
12.3 cm

x cm

262.61

x 16.21

670

16.4 cm

Diagram 1
Find the value of x.
(2) Diagram 2 shows the triangle PQR such
that
PQ =7 cm, QR =5 cm and PQR =
75 .
R

x cm

5 cm
5cm
750

7 cm

Diagram 2
Find the value of x.

[ 7.475 ]

(3) Diagram 3 shows a triangle with sides 5

cm ,
13 cm and an included angle 43 .

x cm

5 cm

430
13 cm
Diagram 3

Find the value of x .

[ 9.946 ]

(4) Diagram 4 shows the triangle PQR.

7 cm

530

6.3 cm
Diagram 4
B
Find the length of BC.

[ 5.967 cm ]
(5) Diagram 5 shows the triangle KLM.

5.8 cm

480

4 cm
Diagram 5

Find the length of LM.

[ 4.312 cm ]
(6) Diagram 6 shows the triangle PQR.
R
2.23 cm
750 31

Q
5.40 cm
Diagram 6
Find the length of PR.
P

[ 5.302 cm ]
(7) Diagram 7 shows a triangle with sides
6.21 cm , 10.51 cm and an included
angle
360 39 .
x cm

6.21cm
360 39
10.51cm
Diagram 7
Find the value of x .

[ 6.656 ]
Task 2 : Find the unknown angle of a triangle when three sides are given.
(1) In Diagram 1, ABC is a triangle where
Solution :
2

AB = 13 cm, AC = 14 cm and BC= 15

cm.

cos BAC

13 2 14 2 15 2
2(13)(14)

A
=0.3846
14 cm

13cm

BAC 67.38
C

15 cm

Diagram 1
Find BAC .
(2) Diagram 2 shows a triangle ABC where
AB = 11 cm, AC = 13 cm and BC= 16
cm.
A
13 cm

11cm

16 cm

Diagram 2
Find BAC .

[ 83.17]

(3) Diagram 3 shows a triangle ABC where

AB = 13 cm, AC = 16 cm and BC =
17.5 cm.
A
16 cm

13cm

17.5 cm

Diagram 3

Calculate BAC
[ 73.41]
(4) Diagram 4 shows a triangle ABC where
AB = 12.67 cm, AC = 16.78 cm and
BC= 19.97 cm.
A
16.78 cm

12.67cm

19.97 cm

Diagram 4

Calculate BCA

[39.17]

(5) In Diagram 5, PQR is a triangle such

that
3

PR = 6.45 cm, RQ = 2.23 cm and

PQ = 5.40 cm.
R
6.45 cm

2.23 cm
Q

5.40 cm
Diagram 5
Find RQP .
(6) In Diagram 6, PQR is a triangle such
that
PR = 23.5 cm, RQ = 12.5 cm and
PQ= 18.7 cm.
R

23.5 cm

[108.07]

12.5 cm
Q

18.7 cm
Diagram 6

Calculate the smallest angle in the

triangle.

[31.96]

(7) For triangle ABC in Diagram 7, AB =

8.56
cm, AC = 11.23 cm and BC= 14.51 cm.
A
11.23cm

8.56cm
B

14.5 1cm

Diagram 7
Calculate the largest angle in the
triangle.

[93.33]

(8) For triangle ABC in Diagram 8, AB = 13

cm, AC = 16 cm and BC= 17.5 cm.
A
16 cm

13cm

17.5 cm

Diagram 8
Calculate the second largest angle in
the

triangle.

[61.19]