Vectors, Oblique Triangles

Ch-7.6,15
Fatima Hussain
 Polar, Rectangular and Vector Form
 

Imaginary
axis
4

3
  Vector
2

1
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
0
Real
-1 axis

-2
 
 Vector Representation
 
Imaginary
 
Vector

   

  Real
 

   
opposite

 
 
adjacent
 Vector Form Examples    
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

     
 

   

     
 Vector to Rectangular Form Conversion
  Vector

hypotenuse
   
opposite

 
 
adjacent

   

 
 

 
 

 
 
 Graphing Vector Forms of Complex Numbers
Imaginary
axis
Graph a complex number in Cartesian coordinate system
by knowing its real (horizontal) value and imaginary
(vertical) value. 4  
 
Horizontal Real Axis
Vertical Imaginary Axis   3

Convert using Cos for real value 2

Convert using Sin for imaginary value

1  
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
0
Vector Real Value Imaginary
Real
Form Value   -1
axis
a)
-2
5cos37° = 4 5sin37° = 3
b)
4.24cos135° = 4.24sin135° =
-3 3
c)
EXAMPLE
The vector V shown below has a resultant magnitude of 248 units
and makes an angle of 38.20 with the x axis. Find the Hx (horizontal)
and Vy (vertical) rectangular components.

0 Vy
sin 38.2 = = (248∠38.20 )
248 resultant
Polar Form

R=248 Vertical
(Vy) = 153
V y = 248(sin 38.20 ) = 153 0
=38.20
V = (153 ∠ 90 )
y Horizontal
(Hx) = 195
0Hx
cos 38.2 =
248

H x = 248(cos 38.20 ) = 195 0

H = (195 ∠ 0 )
x
 Example
A cable exerts a force of 558 N at an angle of 47.20 with the horizontal. Resolve
this force into the vertical (Vy) and horizontal components (Hx).

Vy V = (558∠47.20 )
sin 47.20 = resultant Polar Form

R=558 N Vertical
558 (Vy) = 409 N

V y = 588(sin 47.20 ) = 409 N 0

Horizontal
V = ( 409 ∠ 90 )
y (Hx) = 379 N

0 Hx
cos 47.2 =
558

H x = 558(cos 47.20 ) = 379 N 0

H = (379 ∠ 0 )
x
Vector Diagrams (Resultant Vector)

If we draw two vectors tip to tail, the The parallelogram method will give the same
resultant R will be the vector that will result. To add the same two vectors A and B as
complete the triangle when drawn from the before, we first draw the given vectors tail to tail
tail of the first vector to the tip of the and complete a parallelogram by drawing lines
second vector. It does not matter whether from the tips of the given vectors, parallel to the
vector A or vector B is drawn first; The given vectors. The resultant R is then the
same resultant will be obtained either way. diagonal of the parallelogram drawn from the
intersections of the tails of the original vectors.
 Resultant of Perpendicular Vectors
Find the resultant (vector V) of two perpendicular vectors whose magnitudes are 627 (Hx) and
485 (Vy). Also, find the angle that it makes with the 627 magnitude vector.

V = (793∠37.70 )
Polar Form

2 2 2
R = ( H x ) + (V y )
resultant
2 2 793 = Vertical
R = (627) + (485) = 793 (Vy) = 485

= 37.70
485 Horizontal
tan θ = = 0.774 (Hx) = 627
627
tan −1 0.774 = θ
(arctan 0.774)

θ = 37.70
 Resultant of Non-perpendicular Vectors
Find the resultant (vector R) of the three vectors
6.34∠29.50 , 4.82∠47.20 and 5.52∠73.00 R = (15.8∠48.80 )
Polar Form

Vertical
Rx components Ry components (Ry)

6.34 cos 29.5° = 5.52 6.34 sin 29.5° = 3.12

4.82 cos 47.2° = 3.27 4.82 sin 47.2° = 3.54
5.52 cos 73.0° = 1.61 5.52 sin 73.0° = 5.28 Horizontal
Sums: Rx = 10.4 Sums: Ry = 11.9 (Rx)

Step 1: Resolve each given vector into their Rx and Ry

components then add up the total Rx and Ry values.

Step 2: Convert the Rectangular components

R=(10.4, 11.9) into their equivalent Polar
Form.

R = (10.4, 11.9) → (15.8∠48.80 )

Rectangular Form Polar Form
 Two vectors, A and B, make an angle of 47.20 with each other. If their magnitudes are A =
125 and B = 146, find the magnitude of the resultant R and the angle Ф1 that R makes
with vector B.
Law of Cosines

2 2 2
R = A + B − 2 A B • cosθ3 Ф2
248
2 2 2
R = (125) + (146) − 2(125)(146) • cos132.8 Ф3
125 132.80
2 21.70
R = 15 625 + 21 316 − 36 500 • (−0.6794) Ф1
2 47.20 146
R = 61 739.1
R = 61 739.1 = 248

Law of Sines Supplementary Angle

A R (125)sin132.8 θ3 = 180 − 47.2 = 132.8
= sin φ1 = = 0.3698
sin φ1 sin R 248
ANS: R = 248
125 248 φ1 = 21.7
= φ1 =21.70
sin φ1 sin132.8
Vector A has a magnitude of 125 at an angle of 77.20 and Vector B has a
magnitude of 146 at an angle of 30.00 . Find the magnitude of the resultant
and the angle that R makes with the x axis.

Polar to Rectangular
Conversions
(125∠77.20 )
0
x = 125cos 77.2 = 27.6935622 Vector addition and subtraction are best done in
0
y = 125sin 77.2 = 121.8936693 Rectangular Form so we convert all of our Polar
+ (146∠300 ) Coordinates into Rectangular Components using
0
x= 146cos30.0 = 126.439709
y = 146sin 30.0 = 7.3 0 basic trigonometry or directly on our calculator.

(27.6935622, 121.8936693) x and y rectangular components (Vector A)

+ (126.439709, 73.0) x and y rectangular components (Vector B)

Add up the total x-components and total
y-components. This represents our
(154.1332712, 194.8936693) Resulting Vector in Rectangular Form.

Convert your final answer back into

0 Polar Form using basic trigonometry
= (248.48∠51.66 ) or directly on your calculator.

r = 154.12 + 194.92 = 61732.82 ≅ 248.46 ⎛ y⎞ ⎛ 194.9 ⎞

θ = tan −1 ⎜ ⎟ = tan −1 ⎜ ⎟ ≅ 51.66
0
⎝x⎠ ⎝ 154.1 ⎠
ANS: (248∠51.70 )
Find the resultant R of the four vectors.
A = 42.0∠58.00 , B = 56.1∠1480 , C = 52.7∠2320 and D = 45.3∠2910

Vector Rx Components Ry Components

A 42.0 cos 58.0° = 22.3 42.0 sin 58.0° = 35.6 B
56.1 cos 148° = -47.6 56.1 sin 148° = 29.7 C 52.7
cos 232° = -32.4 52.7 sin 232° = -41.5 D + 45.3
cos 291° = 16.2 + 45.3 sin 291° = -42.3 R
Rx = -41.5 Ry = -18.5

Step 1: Resolve each given vector into their Rx and Ry rectangular

components using x = V cosθ and y = V sinθ. Then, add up the total
Rx and Ry values giving the resulting vector R in rectangular form.
Find the resultant R of the four vectors

A = 42.0∠58.00 , B = 56.1∠1480 , C = 52.7∠2320 and D = 45.3∠2910

Vector Rx Components Ry Components

A 42.0 cos 58.0° = 22.3 42.0 sin 58.0° = 35.6 B
Horizontal
56.1 cos 148° = -47.6 56.1 sin 148° = 29.7 C 52.7 Component
cos 232° = -32.4 52.7 sin 232° = -41.5 D + 45.3
cos 291° = 16.2 + 45.3 sin 291° = -42.3 R
Rx = -41.5 Ry = -18.5 Vertical
Component
R = (−41.5, −18.5)
Rectangular Form

Step 1: Resolve each given vector into their Rx and Ry rectangular

components using x = V cosθ and y = V sinθ. Then, add up the total R = (45.4∠2040 )
Polar Form

Rx and Ry values giving the resulting vector R in rectangular form.

Step 2: Convert the Horizontal and Vertical Ry

rectangular components R = (-41.5, -18.5) θ = arctan
into their equivalent polar form. Rx
R 2 = (-41.5) 2 + (-18.5) 2 = 2065 −18.5
θ = arctan = 2040
−41.5
R = 45.4
RECT (−41.5, −18.5) → POL(45.4∠2040 )
 Example (Impedance Vectors)
The capacitive reactance (XC) of a certain circuit is 2720 Ω, the inductive reactance (XL) is 3260
Ω and the resistance is 1150 Ω. Find the overall reactance (X), magnitude (Z), phase angle (Ф)
and impedance (Z).

Z = (1270∠25.20 )
2 2 2 Polar Form

Z = ( R) + ( X )
Ω = 1270 Ω Vertical
= 3260 - 2720

Z = (1150) 2 + (540) 2 = 1270 Ω

= 540
= 25.20

= 1150 Ω
Horizontal
540
tan θ = = 0.470
1150
tan −1 0.470 = φ
(arctan 0.470)

φ = 25.20
Oblique Triangles
oblique triangles – triangles that have no right angles.
As standard notation, the angles of a triangle are labeled A, B,
and C, and their opposite sides are labeled a, b, and c.
To solve an oblique triangle, we need to know the measure of at
least one side and any two other measures of the triangle—either
two sides, two angles, or one angle and one side.
Cont..
This breaks down into the following four cases:
1. Two angles and any side (AAS or ASA)
2. Two sides and an angle opposite one of them (SSA) (Ambiguous
case)
3. Three sides (SSS)
4. Two sides and their included angle (SAS)

The first two cases can be solved using the Law of Sines,
whereas the last two cases require the Law of Cosines.
Cont..

The Law of Sines can also be written in the reciprocal form:

.
Given Two Angles and One Side – AAS

For the triangle below C = 102°, B = 29°, and b = 28 feet. Find the
remaining angle and sides.
Example AAS - Solution

The third angle of the triangle is

A = 180° – B – C
= 180° – 29° – 102°
= 49°.
By the Law of Sines, you have

.
Example AAS – Solution cont’d

Using b = 28 produces

and
 THE LAW OF SINES
Use the Law of Sines when the information marked
in red is given. a b c
L a w o f S i n e : = =
sin A sin B sin C

ASA AAS SSA

2 angles and any 2 angles and any 2 sides and a
side side nonincluded angle
(ambiguous case)
If the known parts of the triangle are ASA,
AAS, or SSA, use the Law of Sines. The
known parts are shown in red in the
triangles above.
 Solve triangle ABC where
∠ A = 32.5 ,
0
B = 49.70 and a =
226.
Sum of Angles

∠C = 180 − 32.5 − 49.7 = 97.8

97.80
= 321
Law of Sines

a b
=
sin A sin B

226 b (226)sin 49.7

= b= = 321
sin 32.5 sin 49.7 sin 32.5
 Solve triangle ABC where
∠ A = 32.5 ,
0
B = 49.70 and a =
226.
Sum of Angles
= 417
∠C = 180 − 32.5 − 49.7 = 97.8
97.80
= 321
Law of Sines

a c
=
sin A sin C

226 c (226)sin 97.8

= c= = 417
sin 32.5 sin 97.8 sin 32.5
ANS: ∠C =97.80
b=321 c =417
Ambiguous Case
When the given information is SSA, there are three
possibilities.
1) (1 triangle) - There is only one triangle possible for the
given information.
2) (2 triangles) - There are 2 triangles possible for the
given information.
3) (no triangles) - There is not a triangle possible for the
given information.
The Ambiguous Case
 Example 2: Solve the triangle: a = 6, b = 8 , A = 35⁰.
Round all
answers to the nearest tenth.
B Solution: The information gives a
c 6
SSA triangle. Use the Law of Sine.
This is the ambiguous case. There
A
35⁰
C
may be 0, 1, or 2 solutions.
8

a b 6 8
= =
sin A sin B sin35 sin B
B = 49.9⁰ or maybe B =180⁰ - 49.9⁰ = 130.1⁰
Since 130.1⁰ will work in this triangle, there are 2 possible
solutions for this problem. (continued)
Case 1: B1 ≈ 49.9⁰. Then C1 = 180⁰ - 35⁰ - 49.9 ≈ 95.1⁰

6 c1
= c1 ≈ 10.419
sin35 sin 95.1

Case 2: B2 ≈ 130.1⁰. Then C2 = 180⁰ - 35⁰ - 130.1⁰ ≈

14.9⁰
6 c2
= c2 ≈ 2.69
sin35 sin14.9

Triangle 1: Or Triangle 2:
B = 49.9, C = 95.1⁰c ≈ 10.4 B = 130.1⁰ , C = 14.9⁰, c =
2.7
Another way to check for the ambiguous case is to make a sketch.

Two sets of solutions

C=43 , B=109.4, a=112, b=228,
c=165
C=137, B=15.4, a=112, b=64.2,
c=165
Single-Solution Case—SSA

For the triangle below, a = 22 inches, b = 12 inches, and A = 42°.

Find the remaining side and angles.

One solution: a ≥ b
Solution SSA

By the Law of Sines, you have

sin B sin A Reciprocal form
=
b a

( sina A)
sin B = b
Multiply each side by b.

sin B = 12 ( sin2242 ) Substitute for A, a, and b.

B ≈ 21.41o B is acute.
Cont.…
Now, you can determine that
C ≈ 180° – 42° – 21.41°
= 116.59°.
c a
=
Then, the remaining side is sin C sin A

a 22 ≈ 29.40 inches
c= sin C c= sin(116.59)
sin A sin( 42)
 Solve triangle ABC where
∠ A = 35.2 , a = 525 and c = 412.
0

Sum of Angles
26.90
Not enough information

Law of Sines

a c
=
sin A sin C

525 412 (412)sin 35.2

= sin C = = 0.4524
sin 35.2 sin C 525
∠C = 26.9
Law of Sines vs Law of Cosines

NOTE: We use the law of sines when we

have a known side opposite a known angle.
We use the law of cosines only when the law
of sines does not work, that is, for all other
cases. In the figures shown, the heavy lines
indicate the known information and might
help in choosing the proper law.
 Solve triangle ABC where a = 184, b = 125 and
C = 27.20.
Law of Cosines
c 2 = a 2 + b 2 − 2ab • cos C 38.10

2 2 2 = 92.6
c = (184) + (125) − 2(184)(125) • cos 27.2
2 114.70
c = 33 856 + 15 625 − 46 000 • (0.8894)
c 2 = 8 568.6 BLANK

Law of Sines c = 8 568.6 = 92.6 Sum of Angles

b c (125)sin 27.2 ∠A = 180 − 27.2 − 38.1

= sin B = = 0.617
sin B sin C 92.6 ∠A = 114.7
(Acute Angle)

∠B = 38.1
125 92.6
=
sin B sin 27.2
 Solve triangle ABC, where a = 128, b = 146 and c = 222.
Law of Cosines
108.10
a 2 + b2 − c2
cos C = 33.20
(Largest Angle) 2ab
38.70
(128) 2 + (146) 2 − (222) 2
cos C =
2(128)(146) BLANK

−11 584 Sum of Angles

cos C = = −0.3099 ∠C = 108.1
Law of Sines 37 376

a c (128)sin108.1 ∠B = 180 − 108.1 − 33.2

= sin A = = 0.5482
sin A sin C 222 ∠B = 38.7
∠A = 33.2
128 222
=
sin A sin108.1
From a point on level ground between two power poles of the same height, cables are stretched
to the top of each pole. One cable is 52.6 m long, the other is 67.5 m long, and the angle of
intersection between the two poles is 1250 . Find the distance between the two poles.

Law of Cosines

c 2 = a 2 + b 2 − 2ab • cosθ
θ
c 2 = (52.6) 2 + (67.5) 2 − 2(52.6)(67.5) • cos125.0

c 2 = 2766.76 + 4556.25 − 7101 • (−0.5736)

c 2 = 11396.1436

c = 1136.992 = 106.7527 m ANS: 107 m

 An Application of the Law of Cosines

The pitcher’s mound on a women’s softball field is 43 feet

from home plate and the distance between the bases is 60
feet (The pitcher’s mound is not halfway between home
plate and second base.) How far is the pitcher’s mound
from first base?
Solution

In triangle HPF, H = 45° (line HP bisects the right angle at H), f = 43,
and p = 60.
Using the Law of Cosines for this SAS case, you have
h2 = f 2 + p2 – 2fp cos H
= 432 + 602 – 2(43)(60) cos 45° ≈ 1800.3.
So, the approximate distance from the pitcher’s mound to first base is
≈ 42.43 feet.