Questions   
Sort: 
Jan 24, 2018
 #2
avatar+299 
+2
Jan 24, 2018
 #2
avatar+9466 
+2

a)  We can use the law of cosines to find the angles.

 

c2   =   a2 + b2 - 2ab cos C    , where  C  is the angle opposite side  c .

 

Let  a = 19 ,  b = 20 ,  c = 21  and  A ,  B , and  C  be the angles opposite their respective sides.

 

212   =   192 + 202 - 2(19)(20)cos C

 

441   =   361 + 400 - 760 cos C

 

441   =   761 - 760 cos C

                                                     Subtract  761  from both sides of the equation.

-320   =   -760 cos C

                                                     Divide both sides by  -760 .

8/19   =   cos C

                                                     Take the inverse cosine of both sides.

C  =   acos( 8/19 )   ≈   65.099°

 

Now let's use the law of cosines again to find the angle opposite the  20 cm  side.

 

202   =   192 + 212 - 2(19)(21)cos B

 

400   =   361 + 441 - 798 cos B

 

400   =   802 - 798 cos B

 

-402   =   -798 cos B

 

67/133   =   cos B

 

B   =   acos( 67/133 )   ≈   59.751°

 

Since there are  180°  in every triangle,  A + B + C  =   180°   and   A  =  180° - B - C

 

A   ≈   180° - 59.751° - 65.099°   ≈   55.15°

 

b)

 

Let the base be the 19 cm side, and the height be  20 sin 65.099°

 

area   ≈   (1/2)(19)(20 sin 65.099°)   ≈   172.337  sq cm

Jan 24, 2018
 #4
avatar+107 
+1
Jan 24, 2018

3 Online Users

avatar
avatar