Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus, 7th Edition

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 1305071751
ISBN 13: 978-1-30507-175-9

Chapter 6 - Section 6.6 - The Law of Cosines - 6.6 Exercises - Page 521: 11

Answer

$a=18$ $;$ $b=10$ $;$ $c\approx24.58$ $\angle A\approx39.36^{\circ}$ $;$ $\angle B\approx20.64$ $;$ $\angle C=120^{\circ}$

Work Step by Step

The triangle is shown in the attached image below. Find side $c$ by using the formula $c^{2}=a^{2}+b^{2}-2ab\cos C$, obtained from the Law of Cosines. Substitute the known values and solve for $c$: $c^{2}=18^{2}+10^{2}-2(18)(10)\cos120^{\circ}$ $c=\sqrt{18^{2}+10^{2}-2(18)(10)\cos120^{\circ}}\approx24.58$ Find angle $A$ by using the formula $\dfrac{\sin A}{a}=\dfrac{\sin C}{c}$, obtained from the Law of Sines. Substitute the known values and solve for $A$: $\dfrac{\sin A}{18}=\dfrac{\sin120^{\circ}}{24.58}$ $\sin A=\Big(\dfrac{18}{24.58}\Big)\sin120^{\circ}$ $A=\sin^{-1}\Big[\Big(\dfrac{18}{24.58}\Big)\sin120^{\circ}\Big]\approx39.36^{\circ}$ Two angles are now known. Since $\angle A+\angle B+\angle C=180^{\circ}$, substitute the known angles into the formula and solve for $B$: $\angle B=180^{\circ}-120^{\circ}-39.36^{\circ}\approx20.64^{\circ}$
Update this answer!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this answer.

Update this answer

After you claim an answer you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.