Finding Angle B in Triangle ABC with Side Lengths a, b, c

In summary, the conversation is about finding angle B in triangle ABC given the sides a=8, b=6, and c=12 using the law of cosines. The attempt at a solution involved substituting the values into the formula and using a calculator in degree mode to find the angle. However, it was pointed out that the largest angle should be opposite the largest side, and using the correct formula (arccos or cos^(-1)) led to the correct answer of 117.4 degrees.
  • #1
disregardthat
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Homework Statement



In triangle ABC where you only know the sides: a, b and c I must find angle B.
a=8
b=6
c=12

Homework Equations



Law of cosines: c^2 = a^2 + b^2 -2ab*cos(C)
When angle C is at the opposite of side c, (same for a and b)

The Attempt at a Solution



12^2 = 6^2 + 8^2 -2*6*8*cos(C)

144 = 36+64-96cos(C)
44=-96cos(C)
-(44/96) = cos(C)
- (11/24) = cos(C)

(I know the answer is supposed to be 117.4)
And cos(117.4)=-(11/24)

The problem is:
How do I find the angle? The explanation says: "Use calculator (degree mode)"
How do I do that?

I have an TI-84 Plus
 
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  • #2
Look for 'arccos' or 'cos^(-1)'.
 
  • #3
Are you sure about that? Check your formula again. The largest angle must be opposite the largest side, and side b is not the largest side
 
  • #4
Dick said:
Look for 'arccos' or 'cos^(-1)'.

Thanks, I found it, and I filled in the number, and I got the answer.
 
  • #5
Dick said:
Look for 'arccos' or 'cos^(-1)'.

Thanks, I found it, and I filled in the number, and I got the answer.
 

What is the formula for finding angle B in Triangle ABC with Side Lengths a, b, c?

The formula for finding angle B in Triangle ABC is B = arccos((a^2 + c^2 - b^2) / (2ac)), where a, b, and c are the lengths of the sides of the triangle.

Can angle B be found without knowing the lengths of all three sides?

No, in order to find angle B, you need to know the lengths of all three sides of the triangle.

Are there any other ways to find angle B without using the formula?

Yes, you can use the Law of Cosines (c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2abcos(B)) or the Law of Sines (a/sin(A) = b/sin(B) = c/sin(C)) to find angle B, as long as you know the lengths of at least two sides and one angle of the triangle.

What if one of the side lengths is negative?

The formula and laws for finding angle B will still work, as long as the negative length is used correctly in the calculations. However, in a real-life scenario, a negative side length would not make sense and would likely indicate an error in measurement or calculation.

Can the formula be used for any type of triangle?

Yes, the formula for finding angle B can be used for any type of triangle, including right triangles, acute triangles, and obtuse triangles. However, if the triangle is degenerate (meaning one of the angles is 180 degrees), this formula will not work and the angle cannot be determined.

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