Table of Contents
Whats the difference between law of sines and law of cosines?
The cosine rule relates the cosine of an angle of a triangle to the sides of the triangle. The sine rules gives the ratio of the sine of two angles of a triangle, which equals to the ratio of the corresponding opposite sides.
When can we use the law of sines?
The law of sines can be used to compute the remaining sides of a triangle when two angles and a side are known—a technique known as triangulation. It can also be used when two sides and one of the non-enclosed angles are known.
What is the use of Law of Cosines?
The Law of Cosines is used to find the remaining parts of an oblique (non-right) triangle when either the lengths of two sides and the measure of the included angle is known (SAS) or the lengths of the three sides (SSS) are known.
When can you use the law of sines to find a missing angle?
This law is extremely useful because it works for any triangle, not just a right triangle. In particular, it can often be used to find an unknown angle or an unknown side of a triangle.
How do you know when to use the law of cosines?
The Law of Cosines is useful for finding: the third side of a triangle when we know two sides and the angle between them (like the example above) the angles of a triangle when we know all three sides (as in the following example)
When to use law of cosines?
When to Use. The Law of Cosines is useful for finding: the third side of a triangle when we know two sides and the angle between them (like the example above) the angles of a triangle when we know all three sides (as in the following example)
When do you use the law of cosines?
The law of cosines is used to solve oblique triangles. Use the law of cosines to compute the angles when the lengths of all three sides are known. The law of cosines may also be used when the length of two sides and the measure of their included angle are known.
When to use cosine rule?
The cosine rule is a formula commonly used in trigonometry to determine certain aspects of a non-right triangle when other key parts of that triangle are known or can otherwise be determined.