# Trig/Triangle problem.

1. Mar 31, 2005

### PrudensOptimus

I have here a standard 90 degree triangle.

_______B________
| /
| /
| /
| /
A /
| C
| /
| /
| /
| /
| /
| /
| /
| /
|/

I know not the numerical value of A,B,C. However, I do know all of the angles they are corresponding to respectively.

How can i find A....

2. Mar 31, 2005

### danne89

What do you mean?. Do you know every angle in the triangle?

In that case:
sin A/a = sin B/b = sin C/c The law of sinus

3. Mar 31, 2005

### Curious3141

Your diagram is difficult to interpret. A general rule is that knowing three angles of a triangle tells you nothing about the measure of their sides, since there are an infinite number of similar triangles.

You always need a minimum of 3 non trivial things to specify a plane triangle, either

a) two angles and one side.

b) two sides and one included angle.

Given a), you can find all the sides with the sine rule. The third angle can be found trivially by subtracting from the angle sum of 180 degrees. Given b), you can find the remaining side with the cosine rule, then use the sine rule to find one other angle, the third angle is trivial to find by subtraction.

4. Mar 31, 2005

### Zurtex

Quote his text to see what his diagram was supposed to look like.

I belive if you know the length of all 3 sides you can also work out the angles. But always make sure the triangle follows the triangle equality.

Last edited: Mar 31, 2005
5. Mar 31, 2005

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
If A is the length of the side, then it is impossible to find lengths knowing only angles. All "similar triangles" have the same angles no matter what the lengths are.

If you know that angles and ONE side length, then you can find the other lengths.

6. Mar 31, 2005

### PrudensOptimus

Law of Sin wont work... i know not any of the sides.

7. Mar 31, 2005

### DaveC426913

The lengths of the sides cannot be calculated

...UNLESS...

...you weren't asked for an actual measurement - you can supply a *proportion* (i.e. algebra):
The length of A in relation to B and C is ...
The length of B in relation to A and C is ...
The length of C in relation to A and B is ...

Example: if the AC and BC angles are 45 degrees, then:

$$A = B = \sqrt{\frac{1}{2} (C^2)}$$
$$C=\sqrt{A^2+B^2}$$
(But that's the easy triangle.)

Last edited: Mar 31, 2005
8. Mar 31, 2005