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MATHEMATICS
Quarter 4 – Module 8
Solving Problems Involving Oblique
Triangles Using the Law of Cosines
Mathematics – Grade 9
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 4 – Module 8: Solving Problems Involving Oblique Triangles Using
the Law of Cosines
First Edition, 2020

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Mathematics
Quarter 4 – Module 8
Solving Problems
Involving Oblique Triangles
Using the Law of Cosines
 I

LEARNING COMPETENCY:

 Solves problems involving oblique triangles. (M9GE-IVh-j-1)

OBJECTIVES:
K: Recalls the law of cosines
S: Solves problems involving oblique triangles using the law
of cosines
A: Shows appreciation on the use of the law of cosines in
solving problems involving oblique triangles

Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Refer to the figure at right. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What is the length of side b?

A. 6. 36 units
B. 7.11 units
C. 7.78 units
D. 8.06 units

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2. What is the
length of side c?
A. 4.63 units
B. 4.73 units
C. 5.6 units
D. 6.41 units

3. What is the
length of side q?
A. 16.9 units
B. 19.24 units
C. 21.08 units
D. 21.32 units

4. Find angle A
A. 33.6°
B. 54.7°
C. 62.2°
D. 84.3°

5. Find angle Q
A. 35.8°
B. 40.6°
C. 56.8°
D. 82.6°

’s In

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 The triangles we see around us are not all right triangles. Look at the pictures below.
Can you see the triangular patterns? Do the triangles you see in the pictures contain a right
angle?

The triangles that you see in the pictures are known as oblique triangles.

Look around your house.

1. Can you see things in the shape of oblique triangles? List down at least five things
you see around that may not be considered as right triangles. These are oblique
triangles.
2. Take a second look at the things you have listed and find out what common
characteristic these triangles have.
3. If you were asked to classify the things in your list into two, how would you do it?
What is your basis for classifying them as such?
4. Can you now define an oblique triangle? Give your definition of an oblique triangle
based on what you have observed.
5. On the basis of your observation, how would you classify oblique triangles?

The following are the classifications of oblique triangles.

Acute triangle Obtuse triangle

An oblique triangle is a triangle which does not contain any right angle.
Oblique triangles may be classified into two —acute and obtuse.
An acute triangle is a triangle whose angles are all less than 90°.
An obtuse triangle is a triangle in which one of the angles is more than 90°.

’s New

Oblique triangles can also be solved using the Law of Cosines.

The Law of Cosines can be used in the following situations:

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 states that
• two sides and the included angle are knownThis Law of Cosines
•
other two sides minus the product of twice the two sides and the cosine of the angle

three sides are known

the square of the length of one side is equal to the sum of the squares

of the between them.

The Law of Cosines can be used in the following situations:

• two sides and the included angle are known
• three sides are known

In solving for any of the sides of a triangle, use the following equations:
𝒂𝟐 = 𝒃𝟐 + 𝒄𝟐 − 𝟐𝒃𝒄 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝑨

𝒄𝟐 =𝒂𝟐 +𝒃𝟐 −𝟐𝒂𝒃𝒄𝒐𝒔𝑪

𝒃𝟐 =𝒂𝟐 +𝒄𝟐 −𝟐𝒂𝒄𝐜𝐨𝐬𝑩

In solving for any of the angles of a triangle, use the following equations:
cos A = 𝒃𝟐+𝒄𝟐−𝒂𝟐
𝟐𝒃𝒄

cos B = 𝒂𝟐+𝒄𝟐−𝒃𝟐
𝟐𝒂𝒄

cos C = 𝒂𝟐+𝒃𝟐−𝒄𝟐
𝟐𝒂𝒃

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 is It

SOLVING PROBLEMS INVOLVING OBLIQUE TRIANGLES

USING THE LAW OF COSINES
Let us start exploring with the application of the law of cosines:

Illustrative Example 1:
Let us use ∆ABC to illustrate the Law of Cosines.

Given : two sides and the included angle

a = 8, b = 12, angle C = 80°

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Given: three sides a
= 15, b = 10, c = 20

Generally, if we solve word problems involving oblique triangles, let us be guided by

the suggested steps below:

• Read the problem.

• Identify what are numerical data given.
• Identify what the problem wants you to solve.
• Illustrate.
• Determine relationships and establish the equation/law to be applied.
• Solve the problem.
• Verify the answer.

Illustrative Example 3:

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The vertex of an isosceles triangle is 72 0 and each of the equal sides is 10 cm. Find the
perimeter of the triangle.

Illustration A Given:

720 A = 720
10 cm 10 cm

b= 10
B c = 10
Find: a
C

Solution:

To find a, use: a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc (cos A)

Substitute the given values: a2 = 102 + 102 – 2(10)(10) (cos 720)
Simplify: a2 = 100 + 100 – 200 (cos 720)
Find the value of cos 720 and simplify further: a2 = 200 – 200 (0.3090)
a2 = 200 – 61.80
2
a = 138.20
a = 11.76
Answer: The perimeter of the triangle is 10 cm + 10 cm + 11.76 cm = 31.76 cm.

Illustrative Example 4.
The sides of a triangle are 7 cm, 9 cm, and 5 cm. Find the measure of the smallest angle of the
triangle.

B
Illustration:9 Given:
a=7 5 7
b =9
? c =5
A Find: C
9 C

Solution:
To find C, use: cos C = 𝑎2+𝑏2−𝑐2
2𝑎𝑏

Substitute the given values: cos C = 72+92−52

2(7)(9)

Simplify: cos C = = 0.8333

Press shift cos 0.8333 in the scientific calculator: C = 33.560 Answer: the
-1

measure of the smallest angle of the triangle is 33.56 0.

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 (the smallest angle in the triangle is opposite the shortest side, and the shortest side
is the one measuring 5 cm)

Illustrative Example 5.
Mario owns a triangular piece of lot. If the sides of the lot are 11 m and 8 m, what must be the
length of the longest side if the included angle measures 123 0.

B
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Illustration:9 Given: a = 11
0
123
8 C c=8
b=? B = 1230

A Find: b

Solution:
To find b, use: 𝑏2 =𝑎2 +𝑐2 −2𝑎𝑐cos𝐵
Substitute the given values: 𝑏2 =112 +82 −2(11)(8)(cos1230)
Replace cos 1230 with its equivalent value and simplify: 𝑏2 = 121 + 64 − 2(11)(8)(−0.5446)
b2 = 185 + 95.85
b2 = 280.85
b = 16.76 Answer:
The length of the longest side is 16.76 meters.

’s More

Solve each of the problems below. Be guided with the illustrations:

1. Peter has three sticks measuring 19 cm, 23 cm, and 27 cm. He lays them down to form
a triangle. Find the measure of the angle formed by the 19-cm and the 23-cm sides to
the nearest degree.
?
23
19

27

2. An aircraft tracking station determines the distance from the common point O to each
aircraft and the angle between the aircrafts. If ∠O between the two aircrafts is 490 and

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 the distances from the point O to the two aircrafts are 50 km and 72 km, find the distance
between the two aircrafts. (Round off the answer to the nearest tenth)

Aircraft A ? Aircraft B

50
72
490
O

References
BEAM Third Year Module 12 (TG). Geometry Chapter 4 Similarity 4.2. Ratio and propotions
p.132

DLM 3 – Module 2: Proportions

EASE Module Third Year Similarity Module 1 (LM). 2005. DepEd: Bureau of Secondary
Education

Argel, A. and Angeles, A. A Spiral approach: Mathematics 9. Educational Resources

Corporation.

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