Trigonometry question, Finding coordinates of 3rd point

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on finding the coordinates of the third point (B) in a triangle when the coordinates of points A and C, as well as the lengths of all sides and interior angles, are known. The method involves calculating the slope of line AC, determining the angle θ with respect to the positive x-axis, and using trigonometric functions to derive the coordinates of point B. Two approaches are outlined: one using the equations of lines AC and BC, and another utilizing the slope and angle measures to compute the coordinates directly from point A.

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  • Understanding of basic trigonometry concepts, including slopes and angles.
  • Familiarity with the Cartesian coordinate system.
  • Knowledge of the tangent function and its application in finding slopes.
  • Ability to perform calculations involving sine and cosine functions.
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  • Study the derivation of the slope formula in coordinate geometry.
  • Learn about the tangent function and its applications in trigonometry.
  • Explore methods for solving systems of linear equations.
  • Investigate the properties of triangles and their angles in Euclidean geometry.
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Mathematicians, engineering students, and anyone involved in geometry or trigonometry who needs to calculate unknown coordinates in triangular configurations.

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Heres the situation, I have a triangle in which i found all 3 interior angles. I also have the length of all the sides and the coordinates of 2 points. I just need to find the coordinates of the 3rd point I am missing. Is there some formula i need to use for this?
 
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Sketch the triangle on the xy-axes. Call your points ABC, with B being the unknown. Then find the equation of the line AC and line BC.

Take the line AC and extend until it cuts the x-axis, find the angle θ between AC and the positive x-axis (so you are measuring the angle to the line counter-clockwise). tanθ will give you the gradient of AC.

Repeat for BC.

Solve your two equations and you'll get the coordinates of B!
 
An alternative:

Let A and C be known. Objective: find coordinates of B.

(1) Find the slope of the line AC. Call it m.
(2) Let t = arctan(m). (t may be negative and that's ok)
(3) Add the angle measure for A to t to get the gradient to B. Call the sum u.
(4) Find x1 = (AB)cos(u) and y1 = (AB)sin(u) and add these to the coordinates of A respectively to find the coordinates of B.

I believe this works.

--Elucidus

EDIT: A should be to the left of C (x-axis-wise).
 
Last edited:

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