Chapter 9: Problem 27
Compute each angle of the given triangle. Where necessary, use a calculator and round to one decimal place. $$a=7, b=8, c=13$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
Angles are approximately 120°, 33.6°, and 26.4°.
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Type of Problem
Given the sides of a triangle, we need to find the angles. This can be solved using the Law of Cosines.
02
Use the Law of Cosines for Angle A
The Law of Cosines states: \( c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab \cdot \cos(A) \). Substitute \( a = 7 \), \( b = 8 \), and \( c = 13 \):\[ 13^2 = 7^2 + 8^2 - 2 \, \cdot \, 7 \, \cdot \, 8 \, \cdot \, \cos(A) \]\[ 169 = 49 + 64 - 112 \, \cos(A) \]\[ 112 \, \cos(A) = 113 - 169 \]\[ \cos(A) = \frac{-56}{112} \]Solve for \( A \):\[ A = \cos^{-1}\left(-0.5\right) \]Using a calculator, \( A \approx 120^{\circ} \).
03
Use the Law of Cosines for Angle B
Now find angle \( B \) using similarly the Law of Cosines:\[ b^2 = a^2 + c^2 - 2ac \cdot \cos(B) \]\[ 8^2 = 7^2 + 13^2 - 2 \, \cdot \, 7 \, \cdot \, 13 \, \cdot \, \cos(B) \]Substitute the values:\[ 64 = 49 + 169 - 182 \, \cos(B) \]\[ 182 \, \cos(B) = 218 - 64 \]\[ \cos(B) = \frac{154}{182} \]Solve for \( B \):\[ B = \cos^{-1}\left(\frac{154}{182}\right) \]Using a calculator, \( B \approx 33.6^{\circ} \).
04
Use the Angle Sum Property for Angle C
Since the angles in a triangle sum to \(180^{\circ}\), calculate \(C\) as follows: \[ C = 180^{\circ} - A - B \]. So, \[ C = 180^{\circ} - 120^{\circ} - 33.6^{\circ} \approx 26.4^{\circ} \].
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Triangle Angles
When dealing with triangles, understanding their angles is crucial. A triangle has three angles that always sum to 180 degrees. Each triangle can have a distinctive angle combination:
- An acute triangle has all angles less than 90 degrees.
- A right triangle has one angle exactly equal to 90 degrees.
- An obtuse triangle has one angle greater than 90 degrees.
Angle Calculation
Calculating angles using the Law of Cosines involves a methodical approach. The Law of Cosines relates the lengths of a triangle's sides to its angles, formulated as:\[c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab \cdot \cos(A)\]This equation can be rearranged to find an unknown angle if the side lengths are known.
Let's consider a scenario where we have side lengths, and we want to find angle \(A\):
Let's consider a scenario where we have side lengths, and we want to find angle \(A\):
- Calculate \(c^2\) to begin plugging values into the equation.
- Solve for \(\cos(A)\), rearranging the equation to isolate \(\cos(A)\).
- Use an inverse cosine or arc cosine function, often on a calculator, to transform \(\cos(A)\) into angle \(A\).
Trigonometry
Trigonometry is the study of triangles and the relationships between their sides and angles. It's a foundational branch of mathematics used in various fields such as physics, engineering, and architecture.
In this exercise, we used trigonometric concepts to solve for the angles in a triangle using the sides given. Key elements include:
In this exercise, we used trigonometric concepts to solve for the angles in a triangle using the sides given. Key elements include:
- The Law of Cosines: This is central to finding angles when all three sides are known. It is particularly useful for non-right triangles, where other trigonometric ratios like sine or cosine cannot be directly applied without additional data.
- Inverse Trigonometric Functions: These functions retrieve the angle from a given trigonometric ratio. For example, \(\cos^{-1}\) gives the angle whose cosine value matches the calculated ratio.
- Angle Sum Property: Once two angles are determined, the third can always be found using the fact that the sum of angles in a triangle is 180°.