The Law of Cosines

THE LAW OF COSINES
For any triangle:
a, b and c are sides.
C is the angle opposite side c
The Law of Cosines (also called the Cosine Rule) says:
𝒄𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟐𝒂𝒃 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝑪)
It helps us solve some triangles. Let's see how to use it.
Example: How long is side "c" ... ?
We know angle C = 37º, and sides a = 8 and b = 11
The Law of Cosines says:

𝒄𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟐𝒂𝒃 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝑪)
Put in the values we know: 𝑐 2 = 82 + 112 − 2 × 8 × 11 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(37º)
Do some calculations: 𝑐 2 = 64 + 121 − 176 × 0.798 ..

More calculations: 𝑐 2 = 44.44 …
Take the square root: 𝑐 = √44.44 = 6.67 to 2 decimal places
Answer: c = 6.67
HOW TO REMEMBER
How can you remember the formula?
Well, it helps to know it's the Pythagoras Theorem with something extra so it works for all triangles:
PYTHAGORAS THEOREM:
(only for Right-Angled Triangles) 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2
Law of Cosines:
(for all triangles) 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 − 2𝑎𝑏 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶) = 𝑐 2
So, to remember it:
think "abc": 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2
then a 2nd "abc": 𝟐𝒂𝒃 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝑪),
and put them together: 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟐𝒂𝒃 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝑪) = 𝒄𝟐
When to Use
The Law of Cosines is useful for finding:
 the third side of a triangle when we know two sides and the angle between them (like the
example above)
 the angles of a triangle when we know all three sides (as in the following example)
Example: What is Angle "C" ...?

 The side of length "8" is opposite angle C, so it is side c. The other two sides are a and b.
 Now let us put what we know into The Law of Cosines:
Start with: 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 − 2𝑎𝑏 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶)
Put in a, b and c: 82 = 92 + 52 − 2 × 9 × 5 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶)
Calculate: 64 = 81 + 25 − 90 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶)
Now we use our algebra skills to rearrange and solve:
Subtract 25 from both sides: 39 = 81 − 90 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶)
Subtract 81 from both sides: −42 = − 90 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶)
Swap sides: −90 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶) = −42

42
Divide both sides by −90: 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶) = 90
42
Inverse cosine: 𝐶 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 ( )
90
Calculator: C = 62.2° (to 1 decimal place)
IN OTHER FORMS
Easier Version for Angles
We just saw how to find an angle when we know three sides. It took quite a few
steps, so it is easier to use the "direct" formula (which is just a rearrangement of
the 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 − 2𝑎𝑏 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶) formula). It can be in either of these forms:
𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 − 𝑐 2
𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶) =
2𝑎𝑏
𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2 − 𝑎2
𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐴) =
2𝑏𝑐
𝑐 2 + 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2
𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐵) =
2𝑐𝑎
Example: Find Angle "C" Using The Law of Cosines (angle version)
In this triangle we know the three sides:
a = 8,
b = 6 and
c = 7.
Use The Law of Cosines (angle version) to find angle C :
𝑎2 + 𝑏2 − 𝑐 2 82 + 62 − 72 51
𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶 ) = = = = 0.53125
2𝑎𝑏 2×8×6 96
𝐶 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1(0.53125) = 57.9° to one decimal place
Versions for a, b and c
Also, we can rewrite the 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 − 2𝑎𝑏 cos(𝐶) formula into 𝑎2

= and 𝑏2 = form.
Here are all three:
𝑎2 = 𝑏2 + 𝑐 2 − 2𝑏𝑐 cos(𝐴)
𝑏 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑐 2 − 2𝑎𝑐 cos(𝐵)
𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 − 2𝑎𝑏 cos(𝐶)
But it is easier to remember the "c2=" form and change the letters as needed !
As in this example:
Example: Find the distance "z"
The letters are different! But that doesn't matter. We can easily substitute 𝒙 for
𝒂, 𝒚 for 𝒃 and 𝒛 for 𝑐
Start with : 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 − 2𝑎𝑏 cos(𝐶)
x for a, y for b and z for c 𝑧 2 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 cos(𝑍)
Put in the values we know: 𝑧 2 = 9.42 + 6.52 − 2 × 9.4 × 6.5 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(131º)
Calculate: 𝑧 2 = 88.36 + 42.25 − 122.2 × (−0.656. . . )
𝑧 2 = = 130.61 + 80.17. ..
𝑧 2 = 210.78. . .
𝑧 = √210.78. . . = 14.5 to 1 decimal place.
Answer: z = 14.5
Did you notice that 𝑐𝑜𝑠(131º) is negative and this changes the last sign in the
calculation to + (plus)? The cosine of an obtuse angle is always negative (see Unit
Circle).

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THE LAW OF COSINES

For any triangle:

a, b and c are sides.

C is the angle opposite side c

The Law of Cosines (also called the Cosine Rule) says:

Example: How long is side "c" ... ?

We know angle C = 37º, and sides a = 8 and b = 11

The Law of Cosines says:

Put in the values we know: 𝑐 2 = 82 + 112 − 2 × 8 × 11 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(37º)

Do some calculations: 𝑐 2 = 64 + 121 − 176 × 0.798 ..

Take the square root: 𝑐 = √44.44 = 6.67 to 2 decimal places

So, to remember it:

then a 2nd "abc": 𝟐𝒂𝒃 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝑪),

and put them together: 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟐𝒂𝒃 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝑪) = 𝒄𝟐

Example: What is Angle "C" ...?

Start with: 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 − 2𝑎𝑏 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶)

Put in a, b and c: 82 = 92 + 52 − 2 × 9 × 5 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶)

Now we use our algebra skills to rearrange and solve:

Subtract 25 from both sides: 39 = 81 − 90 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶)

Subtract 81 from both sides: −42 = − 90 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶)

Swap sides: −90 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝐶) = −42

Calculator: C = 62.2° (to 1 decimal place)

In this triangle we know the three sides:

Use The Law of Cosines (angle version) to find angle C :

𝐶 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1(0.53125) = 57.9° to one decimal place

Versions for a, b and c

Also, we can rewrite the 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 − 2𝑎𝑏 cos(𝐶) formula into 𝑎2

Here are all three:

Example: Find the distance "z"

Start with : 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 − 2𝑎𝑏 cos(𝐶)

x for a, y for b and z for c 𝑧 2 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 cos(𝑍)

Put in the values we know: 𝑧 2 = 9.42 + 6.52 − 2 × 9.4 × 6.5 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(131º)

Calculate: 𝑧 2 = 88.36 + 42.25 − 122.2 × (−0.656. . . )

𝑧 = √210.78. . . = 14.5 to 1 decimal place.

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