Solving oblique spherical triangle :

Cases :

1. in case knowing three a , b , c , sides , we use the haversine

formula

hav a − hav (c − b)
havA =
sin c . sin b
and similarly for B and C

2. Using the sine formula

sin A sin B sin C

= =
sin a sin b sin c

3. in case knowing tow sides a , b (say) and an angle included

between them C , we can use the haversine rule to find c
then continue with the sine one OR we use Napier's rules ,

1
cos (a − b)
1 2 1
tan ( A + B) = cot C
2 1 2
cos (a + b)
& 2 where a > b
1
sin (a − b)
1 2 1
tan ( A − B) = cot C
2 1 2
sin (a + b)
2

Examples :

1. Solve the following Oblique spherical triangle given

that :
a = 146° 37` , b = 135° 49` 20" , c = 60° 4` 54"

Solution :

hav a = 0.9175039 hav(b-c) = 0.3768434 sin a = 0.5502378

hav b = 0.8585904 hav(a-c) = 0.4697805 sin b = 0.6968869
hav c = 0.2506174 hav(a-b) = 0.0088472 sin c = 0.8667371

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then hav A = 0.8950174 implies A = 142° 11` 20"
and hav B = 0.8152660 implies B = 129° 5` 22"
and hav C = 0.0057818 implies C = 8° 43` 19"

1. In the following Oblique spherical triangle given that :

B = 65° 33` , b = 64` 23` 15" , a = 99° 40` 48" ,
Find A

Solution :

sin A sin B
∵ =
sin a sin b
sin a . sin B
∴ sin A = = 0 .9951467
sin b

∴ A = 84 2 1′ 1 0 ′′

2. Solve the following Oblique spherical triangle given that :

b = 156° 12' , c = 112° 48' , A = 76° 32'

Solution :

Now

hav (a ) = hav ( A ) sin b sin c + hav (b − c )

= 0.2794022476
a = 630 49 '11.34 ''
sin b .sin A
sin B = = 0.4373136079
sin a
B = 25055 '57.37 '' correction B = 1800 − 25055 '57.37 ''
= 1540 4 ' 2.63''
sin c .sin A
sin C = = 0.9990038404
sin a
C = 87 0 26 '32.52 ''

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 Another Solution using Napier's rules

Since b > c
Then we have the following

1 1 1
(b − c ) = 21 42′ cos (b − c ) = 0.9291325715 sin (b − c ) = .3697467573
2 2 2
1 1 1
(b + c ) = 134 30′ cos (b + c ) = −0.7009092643 sin (b + c ) = 0.7132504492
2 2 2
A A
cot = 1.267735283 cot = 1.267735283
2 2
1 1
∴ tan (B + C ) = −1.680523006 implies (B + C ) = 120 45 '17.57 '' → (1)
2 2
1 1
and tan (B − C ) = 0.6571899261 implies (B − C ) = 33 18' 45.05'' → (2)
2 2
by adding (1) and (2) we have
B = 154 4' 2.62''
by substracting (1) and (2) we have
C = 87 26' 32.52''
Finally use the sine rule to have a = 630 49'11.34''

Sheet (5)

Solving oblique spherical triangle :

Solve the following Oblique spherical triangle :
hav a − hav ( c − b )
( by using the haversine formula hav A = )
sin c . sin b

Lecture

1. a = 70° 20` 50" , b = 38° 28` , c = 51° 41`

2. a = 56° 41` , b = 34° 46` , c = 34° 46`
3. c = 84° 49' , b = 97° 26' , a = 79° 26'
4. a = 100° 50` , b = 99° 40` 48" , c = 64° 23` 15"

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 Section

1. a = 46° 45` 30" , b = 41° 53` , c = 41° 35`

2. c = 68° 45' , b = 53° 15' , a = 46° 30'
3. a = 58° 58` , b = 124° 7` 17" , c = 88° 21` 20"
4. a = 66° 48` , b = 101° 25` , c = 123° 24`

Home work

1. c = 70° 14' 20" , b = 49° 24' 10" a = 38° 46' 10"

2. c = 50° 10' , b = 64° 17' , a = 27° 37'
3. a = 57° , b = 83° , c =71°
4. a = 64° , b = 85° , c = 90°
5. c = 84° 18' 28" , b = 115° 10' , a = 31° 9' 13"

Sheet (6)

Solving oblique spherical triangle :

In the following Oblique spherical triangle :
sin A sin B sin C
( by using the sine rule = = )
sin a sin b sin c

Lecture

1. a = 58° 58` , A = 50° 20` , c = 88° 21` 20" , Find C

2. a = 63° 49` , A = 76° 32` , b = 156° 12` , Find B
3. C = 52° 29` , a = 70° 20` 50", c = 51° 41`, Find A
4. a = 99° 40' 48" , b = 64° 23' 15" , A = 95° 38' 42" , Find B

Section

1. A = 78° 37` , a = 79° 26` , c = 84° 49` , Find C

2. A = 50° 51` , a = 46° 30` , b = 53° 15` , Find B
3. c = 62° 36` , B = 102° 59` , b = 100° 10` , Find C
4. a = 100° 50` , b = 99° 40` 48" , A = 97° 26` 29" , Find B

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 Home work

1. c = 68° 45` , B = 58° 56` , b = 53° 15` , Find C

2. a = 38° 46` 10" , c = 70° 14` 20" , A = 38° 27` , Find C
3. B = 48° 56` , b = 49° 24` 10" , c = 70° 14` 10" , Find C
4. b = 41° 53` , a = 46° 45` 30" , A = 73° 11` 18" , Find B
5. B = 65° 33` , b = 64` 23` 15" , a = 99° 40` 48" , Find A

Sheet (7)

Solving oblique spherical triangle :

Solve the following Oblique spherical triangle :

( by using Napier's or haversine rules )

Lecture

1. a = 70° 20' 50" , b = 38° 28' , C = 52° 29'

2. c = 68° 45` , b = 53° 15` , A = 50° 51`
3. c = 88° 21' 20" , b = 124° 7' 17" , A = 50° 20'
4. b = 99° 40' 48" , c = 64° 23' 15" , A = 97° 26' 29"

Section

1. a = 46° 30` , B = 58° 56` , c = 68° 45`

2. c = 70° 14` 20" , B = 48° 56` , a = 38° 46` 10"
3. A = 81° 24' 45" , c = 62° 36' , b = 100° 10'
4. a = 135° 49' 20" , c = 60° 4' 54" , B = 142° 12' 42"

Home work

1. A = 38° 27` , b = 49° 24` 10" , c = 70° 14` 20"

2. a = 79° 26` , c = 84° 49` , B = 98° 34`
3. B = 172° 20` , c = 84° 18` 28" , a = 31° 9` 13"
4. c = 34° 46' b = 34° 46' , A = 112° 45'
5. b = 97° 26` , A = 78° 37` , c = 84° 49`

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