Trigonometry Question

Question

Find the area of triangle ABC where a = 35, b = 26, and m/ C = 95º 52".

Round to the nearest tenth

Answer 1

Hi Mike J.

I would solve this by using the law of Cosines,

This is a little abstract formula but here it is:

c² = a² + b² -2(ab)cos(m / C)

now first the angle appears to be in degree minute seconds and I am not sure how to evaluate this in that form so I would convert the number to degrees by the following:

95° 52" = 95 + 0'/60 + 52"/3600

95° 52" = 95.01444°

c² = 35² + 26² - 2*35*26*cos(95.01444°)

c² = 2,060.0803

Taking the square root

c = 45.388108

Rounding to the nearest tenth

c = 45.39