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4 Solving Triangles Handout Flowchart

This document provides information and formulas for solving triangles based on the measurements that are known. It outlines different scenarios for whether one, two, or all three angles are known along with different combinations of side lengths. Formulas are provided for finding missing angles using trigonometric functions like Law of Sines and Law of Cosines as well as finding the area of triangles using methods like Heron's Formula.

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Reginald Lopez
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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532 views2 pages

4 Solving Triangles Handout Flowchart

This document provides information and formulas for solving triangles based on the measurements that are known. It outlines different scenarios for whether one, two, or all three angles are known along with different combinations of side lengths. Formulas are provided for finding missing angles using trigonometric functions like Law of Sines and Law of Cosines as well as finding the area of triangles using methods like Heron's Formula.

Uploaded by

Reginald Lopez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Solving Triangles

yes Is it a right triangle? no

Do you know an angle USE:


and a side? no Do you know two angles
Sum of angles = 180 yes and a side?(AAS or ASA)
yes Law of Sines
no
USE: Do you know two sides
Sum of angles = 180 and an angle opposite
Trig functions yes one of the sides? (SSA)
Pythagorean Theorem
no
Is A < 90
yes no A > 90
Do you know two sides? no Do you know two sides
Is a < b(sin A)? yes and the included angle?
yes
yes no Is a b? (SAS)
USE: a b(sin A) no
yes no
Pythagorean Theorem no solution a > b
ArcTrig functions no solution Do you know all three
Sum of angles = 180 Is a = b(sin A)? yes sides? (SSS)
yes no one solution no
a > b(sin A) USE: Law of Sines
Cant solve one solution Cant solve
right triangle
USE: Law of Sines
Is a b? USE: Law of Cosines
yes no
a<b Law of Cosines
Trig Functions alternate form on reverse
Law of Sines
one solution
opp hyp USE: Law of Sines a2 = b2 + c2 - 2bc(cosA)
sin = csc = opp a = b = c
hyp sin A sin B sin C b2 = a2 + c2 - 2ac(cosB)
two solutions
adj hyp 1) USE: Law of Sines c2 = a2 + b2 - 2ab(cosC)
cos = sec =
hyp adj 2) B2 = 180 - B1
opp adj
tan = cot = opp
Cant solve
adj
Solving Triangles

Finding Area
of Triangles

SAS AAS or ASA SSS

K = 1 bc sin A K = 1 a 2 sin B sin C Herons Formula


2 2 sin A K = s (s - a) (s - b) (s - c)

K = 1 ac sin B K = 1 b2 sin A sin C where s = 1 (a + b + c)


2 2 sin B 2
K = 1 ab sin C
2 K = 1 c 2 sin A sin B
2 sin C

Alternate form of Law of Cosines

a2 + b2 + c 2
cos A =
2bc

a2 b 2 + c 2
cosB =
2ac

a 2 + b 2 c2
cosC =
2ab

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