Trigonometry (10th Edition)

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

Chapter 7 - Applications of Trigonometry and Vectors - Section 7.1 Oblique Triangles and the Law of Sines - 7.1 Exercises - Page 295: 2

Answer

$C$ and $D$ provides insufficient information.

Work Step by Step

Law of sines: For a triangle $ABC$ with sides $a, b, c$: $$\frac{a}{\sin A}=\frac{b}{\sin B}=\frac{c}{\sin C}$$ Now, look at the image of the triangle below. A. 2 angles and the side included between them are given. For example, in the image, angles $B$ and $C$ and side $a$ are given. As 2 angles are given, we can figure out the angle $A$ according to the fact that $$\angle A+\angle B+\angle C=180^\circ$$ Therefore, $\sin A$, $\sin B$ and $\sin C$ and side $a$ are known. From law of sines: $$\frac{a}{\sin A}=\frac{b}{\sin B}$$ $b$ can be calculated. $$\frac{a}{\sin A}=\frac{c}{\sin C}$$ $c$ can be calculated. Therefore $A$ provides sufficient information. B. 2 angles and a side opposite one of them are given. For example, in the image, angles $B$ and $C$ and side $b$ are given. Again, as 2 angles are given, we can figure out the angle $A$ according to the fact that $$\angle A+\angle B+\angle C=180^\circ$$ Therefore, $\sin A$, $\sin B$ and $\sin C$ and side $b$ are known. From law of sines: $$\frac{a}{\sin A}=\frac{b}{\sin B}$$ $a$ can be calculated. $$\frac{b}{\sin B}=\frac{c}{\sin C}$$ $c$ can be calculated. Therefore $B$ provides sufficient information. C. 2 sides and an angle between them are given. For example, in the image, sides $b$ and $c$ and angle $A$ are given. Unfortunately, knowing $b$ and $c$ does not help us to find out $a$. Therefore, it is not enough to find out all other 3 unknown elements. $C$ provides insufficient information. D. 3 sides are given. In the image, $a, b, c$ are given. Here 3 sides are given. However, in the law of sines, 3 sides are all in the numerators, with all unknowns in the denominator. That means we cannot figure out the unknown ones. $D$ also gives out insufficient information.
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