SOLUTION OF TRIANGLES

2.2 Use Cosine Rule to find the unknown sides or angles of a triangle.

b2  c2  a 2
cos A 
2bc
a2  c2  b2
cos B 
2ac
a  b2  c2
2
cos C 
2ab
Task 1 : Find the unknown side of a triangle when two sides and an included angle are given.
(1) Diagram 1 shows the triangle PQR such Solution :
that PR =12.3 cm , QR =16.4 cm and
 PRQ = 67 . 2
x  16.4  12.3  2(16.4)(12.3) cos 67 0
2 2

P
= 262.1
12.3 cm
x cm
x 262.61
670
Q R x  16.21
16.4 cm
Diagram 1
Find the value of x.
(2) Diagram 2 shows the triangle PQR such that
PQ =7 cm, QR =5 cm and  PQR = 75 .
R

x cm 5 cm
5cm
750
Q
P 7 cm
Diagram 2
Find the value of x.

[ 7.475 ]
(3) Diagram 3 shows a triangle with sides 5 cm ,
13 cm and an included angle 43 .

5 cm x cm

430
E
13 cm
Diagram 3
Find the value of x .

[ 9.946 ]

1
(4) Diagram 4 shows the triangle PQR.
7 cm C
A
530

6.3 cm

Diagram 4
B

Find the length of BC.

[ 5.967 cm ]
(5) Diagram 5 shows the triangle KLM.

5.8 cm
K L
480

4 cm

Diagram 5
M

Find the length of LM.

[ 4.312 cm ]
(6) Diagram 6 shows the triangle PQR.

2.23 cm

750 31’
P Q
5.40 cm
Diagram 6
Find the length of PR.

[ 5.302 cm ]
(7) Diagram 7 shows a triangle with sides
6.21 cm , 10.51 cm and an included angle
360 39’ .
x cm
6.21cm
360 39′

10.51cm

Diagram 7
Find the value of x .

[ 6.656 ]
2
Task 2 : Find the unknown angle of a triangle when three sides are given.
(1) In Diagram 1, ABC is a triangle where Solution :
AB = 13 cm, AC = 14 cm and BC= 15 cm. 13 2  14 2  15 2
cos BAC 
A 2(13)(14)

13cm 14 cm =0.3846

BAC  67.38 
B C
15 cm
Diagram 1

Find BAC .
(2) Diagram 2 shows a triangle ABC where
AB = 11 cm, AC = 13 cm and BC= 16 cm.

11cm 13 cm

B C
16 cm
Diagram 2
Find BAC .

[ 83.17]
(3) Diagram 3 shows a triangle ABC where
AB = 13 cm, AC = 16 cm and BC = 17.5 cm.
A

13cm 16 cm

B C
17.5 cm
Diagram 3
Calculate BAC

[ 73.41]
(4) Diagram 4 shows a triangle ABC where
AB = 12.67 cm, AC = 16.78 cm and
BC= 19.97 cm.
A

12.67cm 16.78 cm

B 19.97 cm C

Diagram 4
Calculate BCA

[39.17]

3
(5) In Diagram 5, PQR is a triangle such that
PR = 6.45 cm, RQ = 2.23 cm and
PQ = 5.40 cm.
R

6.45 cm 2.23 cm

Q
P
5.40 cm
Diagram 5
Find RQP .
[108.07]
(6) In Diagram 6, PQR is a triangle such that
PR = 23.5 cm, RQ = 12.5 cm and
PQ= 18.7 cm.
R

23.5 cm
12.5 cm

P Q
18.7 cm

Diagram 6
Calculate the smallest angle in the triangle.
[31.96]

(7) For triangle ABC in Diagram 7, AB = 8.56

8.56cm 11.23cm

B C
14.5 1cm

Diagram 7
Calculate the largest angle in the triangle.

[93.33]
(8) For triangle ABC in Diagram 8, AB = 13
cm, AC = 16 cm and BC= 17.5 cm.
A

13cm 16 cm

B C
17.5 cm
Diagram 8

Calculate the second largest angle in the