Law of Sines

FIND THE SIX (6) WORDS HIDDEN IN THE PUZZLE

O Q A F T N A V D H
Z V A E R C F B Q O
F O Q X I T X Z L P
X B A G A Q U A S W
U L M F N V D H F G
A I E O G X A A Y E
N Q V B L H M P W S
G U R D E E F B V I
L E S I D E E R E N
E O P P O S I T E E
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

• Illustrate the Law of Sines

• Calculate the measure of each missing angle

and the length of each missing side of the given
triangle using the Law of Sines

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The Law of Sine is used to solve any problems involving triangles when at

least either of the following is known:

a) Two angles and a side (AAS or ASA)

b) Two sides and an angle opposite the given side (SSA ) A

b
c

B C
a

In Triangle ABC, we use the convention that

-a is the side opposite angle A

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Using this label of the triangle, the Law of
Sine can be stated as:

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Introduction
To solve an oblique triangle, you need to know the measure
of at least one side and the measures of any two other
parts of the triangle—two sides, two angles, or one angle
and one side.

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 or
Angle Side Side)
3. Three sides (SSS)
4. Two sides and their included angle (SAS)
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Introduction
The first two cases can be solved using the Law of Sines
(AAS/ASA, SSA/Angle Side Side).

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Introduction
The Law of Sines can also be written in the reciprocal form.
This is the form I usually use, but either is fine. Make sure
you only use two fractions at a time, not all three.

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Example 1 – Given Two Angles and One Side—AAS

For the triangle in Figure 6.3, C = 102.3  , B = 28.7  and b

= 27.4 feet. Find the remaining angle and sides.

Solution: Figure 6.3

The third angle of the triangle is

A = 180  – B – C
= 180  – 28.7  – 102.3 
= 49.0 
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Example 1 – Solution cont’d

By the Law of Sines, you have

Using b = 27.4 produces

and

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The Ambiguous Case (SSA)

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The Ambiguous Case (SSA)
In Example 1, you saw that two angles and one side
determine a unique triangle.

However, if two sides and one opposite angle are given,

then three possible situations can occur:

(1) no such triangle exists,

(2) one such triangle exists, or

(3) two distinct triangles satisfy the conditions.

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The Ambiguous Case (SSA)

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Example 3 – Single-Solution Case—SSA

For the triangle in Figure 6.5, a = 22 inches, b = 12 inches,

and A = 42 . Find the remaining side and
angles.

One solution: a  b

Figure 6.5

Solution:
By the Law of Sines, you have

Reciprocal form

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Example 3 – Solution cont’d

Multiply each side by b

Substitute for A, a, and b.

B is acute.

Now you can determine that

C  180  – 42  – 21.41 

= 116.59 

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Example 3 – Solution cont’d

Then the remaining side is given by

Law of Sines

Multiply each side by sin C.

Substitute for a, A, and C.

Simplify.

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Area of an Oblique Triangle

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Area of an Oblique Triangle
Read this slide and the next two, but do not copy them:
The procedure used to prove the Law of Sines leads to a
simple formula for the area of an oblique triangle. Referring
to Figure 6.8, note that each triangle has a height of
h = b sin A.

A is acute. A is obtuse.

Figure 6.8

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Area of an Oblique Triangle
To see this when A is obtuse, substitute the reference angle
180  – A for A. Now the height of the triangle is given by

h = b sin (180  – A)
Using the difference formula for sine, the height is given by

h = b(sin 180  cos A – cos 180  sin A)

= b[0  cos A – (–1)  sin A ] sin(u –v) = sin u cos v – cos u sin v
= b sin A.

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Area of an Oblique Triangle
Consequently, the area of each triangle is given by

Area = (base)(height)

= (c)(b sin A)

= bc sin A.

By similar arguments, you can develop the formulas

Area = ab sin C

= ac sin B.
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Area of an Oblique Triangle

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Example 6 – Finding the Area of an Oblique Triangle

Find the area of a triangular lot having two sides of lengths

90 meters and 52 meters and an included angle of 102 .

Solution:
Consider a = 90 meters, b = 52 meters, and C = 102 ,
as shown in Figure 6.9.

Figure 6.9

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Example 6 – Solution cont’d

Then the area of the triangle is

Area = ab sin C Formula for area

= (90)(52)(sin 102 ) Substitute for a, b,

and C.

 2288.87 square meters. Simplify.

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