Solving Triangles

yes Is it a right triangle? no

Do you know an angle USE:

and a side? no Do you know two angles
Sum of angles = 180 yes and a side?(AAS or ASA)
yes Law of Sines
no
USE: Do you know two sides
Sum of angles = 180 and an angle opposite
Trig functions yes one of the sides? (SSA)
Pythagorean Theorem
no
Is A < 90
yes no A > 90
Do you know two sides? no Do you know two sides
Is a < b(sin A)? yes and the included angle?
yes
yes no Is a b? (SAS)
USE: a b(sin A) no
yes no
Pythagorean Theorem no solution a > b
ArcTrig functions no solution Do you know all three
Sum of angles = 180 Is a = b(sin A)? yes sides? (SSS)
yes no one solution no
a > b(sin A) USE: Law of Sines
Cant solve one solution Cant solve
right triangle
USE: Law of Sines
Is a b? USE: Law of Cosines
yes no
a<b Law of Cosines
Trig Functions alternate form on reverse
Law of Sines
one solution
opp hyp USE: Law of Sines a2 = b2 + c2 - 2bc(cosA)
sin = csc = opp a = b = c
hyp sin A sin B sin C b2 = a2 + c2 - 2ac(cosB)
two solutions
adj hyp 1) USE: Law of Sines c2 = a2 + b2 - 2ab(cosC)
cos = sec =
hyp adj 2) B2 = 180 - B1
opp adj
tan = cot = opp
Cant solve
adj
 Solving Triangles

Finding Area
of Triangles

SAS AAS or ASA SSS

K = 1 bc sin A K = 1 a 2 sin B sin C Herons Formula

2 2 sin A K = s (s - a) (s - b) (s - c)

K = 1 ac sin B K = 1 b2 sin A sin C where s = 1 (a + b + c)

2 2 sin B 2
K = 1 ab sin C
2 K = 1 c 2 sin A sin B
2 sin C

Alternate form of Law of Cosines

a2 + b2 + c 2
cos A =
2bc

a2 b 2 + c 2
cosB =
2ac

a 2 + b 2 c2
cosC =
2ab