Lesson 3: Sine rule and cosine rule

I. Basic knowledge
At the previous lesson, we have learnt how to measure the lengths and angles of
a right-angled triangle by using basic concepts of trigonometric ratios. In this
lesson, we will use these trigonometric ratios to work out components of non-
right-angled triangle – scalene triangle.
1. The sine rule.
The sine rule or the law of sine is easy to follow and very useful in solving
oblique triangles when you know the following information:
 Two angles and one side.
 Two sides and an angle opposite one of these sides.

In any triangle ABC ,

sin A sin B sin C a b c
= = ⇔ = =
a b c sin A sin B sin C

2. The cosine rule.

The cosine rule or the law of cosine can be used in the following situations:
 Two sides and the included angles are known.
 Three sides are known.

In any triangle ABC ,

a 2=b2 +c 2−2 bc cos A
b 2=c 2+ a2−2 ca cos B
c 2=a2+ b2−2 ab cos C

3. The area rule.

In any triangle ABC ,

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The area rule states that the area of any triangle is equal to half the product of
the lengths of the two sides of the triangle multiplied by the sine of the angle
included by the two sides.
In the other words, we have:
1 1 1
S ABC = ab sin C= bc sin A= ca sin B
2 2 2

Vocabulary
New word Meaning New word Meaning

II. Examples:
EXAMPLE 1.1
Solve for the missing parts of triangle ABC below.

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EXAMPLE 1.2
Let’s use triangle ABC to illustrate the law of cosine.
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EXAMPLE 1.3

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Test the area formulas using the triangles below.

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III. Exercises:
From the top of a building 24 meters high, the angle of elevation of a weather
balloon is 54 °, and from the bottom of the building the angle is 62°. How high above
the ground is the balloon?
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Phineas and Ferb are start at point C. They each walk in a straight line to each other.
Phineas walks at 5 kph and Ferb walks at 7.5 kph. How far apart are they after 40
minutes?
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A football goal is 5 meters wide. When a player is 26 meters from one goal post and
23 meters from the other, he shoots for goal. What is the angle of view of the goals
that the player sees?

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Find the measure of angle PRQ in the rectangular box shown.

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In quadrilateral ABCD, AB=77 m , BC =120 m, CD=60 m and diagonal AC=55 m .

Angle CAD=45 °, angle BAC=x ° and angle ADC= y °.
Fill all given information into the figure.
Calculate the value of x and y .
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