Starter

• Work out the value of the

missing angle, θ.

Sinθ = Sin 71
20 22 θ
22mm

Sinθ = Sin 71 x 20
22

71°
Sinθ = 0.85956…
20mm
Sin -1

θ = 59.3° (1dp)
 The Cosine Rule
• Last lesson we saw the Sine Rule, which
linked opposite sides and angles in any
triangle

• This involved the use of Sine

• This lesson we will learn to use the Cosine

Rule, which also allows us to find a missing
side or angle…
 The Cosine Rule
Learning Objectives
All will be able to use the cosine rule to
calculate missing sides in a triangle (Grade A/A*)

Most will also be able to use this rule to

calculate missing angles (Grade A*)

Some will be able to use this in conjunction

with the Sine rule and others in order to
answer more problems! (Grade A*)
 The Cosine Rule
• The Cosine Rule states
that in any triangle,
B
labelled as to the right;

c
a2 = b2 + c2 - 2bc cosA a

A
b2 = a2 + c2 – 2ac cosB
b C

c2 = a2 + b2 – 2ab cos C
 The Cosine Rule
• Find the missing side in a2 = b2 + c2 - 2bc cosA
the triangle opposite.

a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc cosA
b a
7cm
?
a2 = 72 + 92 – (2x7x9)cos 81

81º
a = 49 + 81 – 126cos81
2
A
9cm
a2 = 130 – 19.71… c
√
a = 10.5cm (1dp)
 The Cosine Rule
• Find the missing side in a2 = b2 + c2 - 2bc cosA
the triangle opposite.

A
a = b + c – 2bc cosA
2 2 2

b 10m 32º
a2 = 102 + 182 – (2x10x18)cos 32
18m c
a = 100 + 324 – 360cos32
2

a2 = 424 – 305.297… ?
√ a
a = 10.9cm (1dp)
 The Cosine Rule
• Find the missing angle in the a2 = b2 + c2 - 2bc cosA
triangle opposite.

a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc cosA A

112 = 132 + 122 – (2x13x12)cosA

?
121 = 169 + 144 – 312cosA
b 13m 12m c
121 = 313 – 312cosA
- 313
-192 = - 312cosA
÷ -312
0.615… = cos A
Cos-1 11m
A = 52.02º (2dp) a
 The Cosine Rule
• Find the missing angle in the a2 = b2 + c2 - 2bc cosA
triangle opposite.

a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc cosA

52 = 112 + 152 – (2x15x11)cosA

25 = 121 + 225 – 330cosA

c
25 = 346 – 330cosA 15m
- 346 a
-321 = - 330cosA 5m
÷ -330 ?
0.972… = cos A
A
Cos-1 11m
A = 13.41º (2dp) b
 Plenary
• Find the missing side in a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc cosA
the triangle opposite.
(Using the cosine rule)

a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc cosA

a2 = 72 + 142 – (2x7x14)cos90
15.6m
a = 49 + 196 – 196cos90
2 b a
?
7m
a2 = 245 – 196cos90
196Cos90 = 0

a2 = 245 A
√ 14m
a = 15.6 (1dp) c

If the angle used is 90, then the part with Cos in will be 0…
So a2 = b2 + c2  PYTHAGORAS!
 Plenary
Learning Objectives
All will be able to use the cosine rule to
calculate missing sides in a triangle (Grade A/A*)

Most will also be able to use this rule to

calculate missing angles (Grade A*)

Some will be able to use this in conjunction

with the Sine rule and others in order to
answer more problems! (Grade A*)
 Summary
• We have learnt how to use the Cosine
Rule

• We have seen that it works in any

triangle

• We have used it to find both missing

sides and angles