Trigonometry (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321671775
ISBN 13: 978-0-32167-177-6

Chapter 7 - Applications of Trigonometry and Vectors - Section 7.3 The Law of Cosines - 7.3 Exercises - Page 314: 26

Answer

The angles of the triangle are as follows: $A = 33.8^{\circ}, B = 38.9^{\circ},$ and $C = 107.3^{\circ}$ The lengths of the sides are as follows: $a = 189~yd, b = 214~yd,$ and $c = 325~yd$

Work Step by Step

We can use the law of cosines to find $B$: $b^2 = a^2+c^2-2ac~cos~B$ $2ac~cos~B = a^2+c^2-b^2$ $cos~B = \frac{a^2+c^2-b^2}{2ac}$ $B = arccos(\frac{a^2+c^2-b^2}{2ac})$ $B = arccos(\frac{189^2+325^2-214^2}{(2)(189)(325)})$ $B = arccos(0.778)$ $B = 38.9^{\circ}$ We can use the law of cosines to find $C$: $c^2 = a^2+b^2-2ab~cos~C$ $2ab~cos~C = a^2+b^2-c^2$ $cos~C = \frac{a^2+b^2-c^2}{2ab}$ $C = arccos(\frac{a^2+b^2-c^2}{2ab})$ $C = arccos(\frac{189^2+214^2-325^2}{(2)(189)(214)})$ $C = arccos(-0.298)$ $C = 107.3^{\circ}$ We can find angle $A$: $A+B+C = 180^{\circ}$ $A = 180^{\circ}-B-C$ $A = 180^{\circ}-38.9^{\circ}-107.3^{\circ}$ $A = 33.8^{\circ}$
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