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: 14

Answer

$a\approx57.173$ $;$ $b=60$ $;$ $c=30$ $\angle A=70^{\circ}$ $;$ $\angle B\approx80.46^{\circ}$ $;$ $\angle C\approx29.54^{\circ}$

Work Step by Step

$b=60$ $,$ $c=30$ $,$ $\angle A=70^{\circ}$ Find side $a$ by using the formula $a^{2}=b^{2}+c^{2}-bc\cos A$, obtained from the Law of Cosines. Substitute the known values and solve for $a$: $a^{2}=60^{2}+30^{2}-2(60)(30)\cos70^{\circ}$ $a=\sqrt{60^{2}+30^{2}-2(60)(30)\cos70^{\circ}}$ $a=\sqrt{3600+900-3600\cos70^{\circ}}\approx57.173$ Find angle $B$ using the formula $\dfrac{\sin A}{a}=\dfrac{\sin B}{b}$, obtained from the Law of Sines. Substitute the known values and solve for $B$: $\dfrac{\sin70^{\circ}}{57.173}=\dfrac{\sin B}{60}$ $\sin B=\Big(\dfrac{60}{57.173}\Big)\sin70^{\circ}$ $B=\sin^{-1}\Big[\Big(\dfrac{60}{57.173}\Big)\sin70^{\circ}\Big]\approx80.46^{\circ}$ Two angles are now known. Since $\angle A+\angle B+\angle C=180^{\circ}$, substitute the known angles into the formula and solve for $\angle C$: $\angle C=180^{\circ}-70^{\circ}-80.46^{\circ}\approx29.54^{\circ}$
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.