NOTES I I.

1 The Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines Definition If none of the angles of a triangle is a right angle, the triangle is called an oblique triangle. Note to solve an oblique triangle means to find the values of all of its angles and lengths, i.e., 

If the triangle is right, simply apply the appropriate trig. ratios i.e., For oblique triangles youll need to use either the law of sines or cosines. There are four possible cases to consider. Case 1: One side and two angles are known [ ASA OR SAA].

and etc.

Case 2: Two sides and the angle opposite one of them are known [SAA]. [ambiguous case] Case 3: Two sides and the included angle are known [SAS]. Case 4: Three sides are known [SSS]. So we use LAW OF SINES for cases 1 and 2.

So we use LAW OF COSINES for cases 3 and 4.

Source= Trigonometry and Precalculus Richland College Edition, 2008 Bryan Valenzuela

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A few remarks about the ambiguous case. Say you are given a, b and angle A. So The determination of there being 1, 2, or no triangles is based on the solution to

If If If  

. , then has two solutions viz.,  



   , then 

  

However, if 

 

Finally the formulas. LAW OF SINES  LAW OF COSINES       

Source= Trigonometry and Precalculus Richland College Edition, 2008 Bryan Valenzuela

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