Rule of sign

Geometry Level 2

For a triangle A B C ABC , we have sin ( A ) = 4 5 , sin ( B ) = 12 13 \sin(A) = \frac 45, \sin(B) = \frac{12}{13} . Which of these values are possible values of sin ( C ) \sin(C) ?

56 33 \frac{56}{33} 33 56 \frac{33}{56} 56 65 \frac{56}{65} 33 65 \frac{33}{65}

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5 solutions

First calculate cos ( A ) \cos(A) and cos ( B ) \cos(B) using sin 2 θ + cos 2 θ = 1 \sin^2 \theta+\cos^2 \theta=1

cos ( A ) = 1 ( 4 5 ) 2 = 3 5 cos ( B ) = 1 ( 12 13 ) 2 = 5 13 \cos(A)=\sqrt{1-\left(\dfrac{4}{5}\right)^2}=\dfrac{3}{5} \\ \cos(B)=\sqrt{1-\left(\dfrac{12}{13}\right)^2}=\dfrac{5}{13}

We only use the angles in the first quadrant to make sure that the triangle exists. Now:

A + B + C = π C = π ( A + B ) sin ( C ) = sin ( π ( A + B ) ) sin ( C ) = sin ( A + B ) sin ( C ) = sin ( A ) cos ( B ) + sin ( B ) cos ( A ) sin ( C ) = 4 5 5 13 + 12 13 3 5 sin ( C ) = 20 65 + 36 65 = 56 65 A+B+C=\pi \\ C=\pi-(A+B) \\ \sin(C)=\sin(\pi-(A+B)) \\ \sin(C)=\sin(A+B) \\ \sin(C)=\sin(A)\cos(B)+\sin(B)\cos(A) \\ \sin(C)=\dfrac{4}{5} \cdot \dfrac{5}{13}+\dfrac{12}{13} \cdot \dfrac{3}{5} \\ \sin(C)=\dfrac{20}{65}+\dfrac{36}{65}=\boxed{\dfrac{56}{65}}

The calculations of cos A and cos B are not necessarily correct. Why did you choose the positive root? All that we know is cos 2 A = ( 3 5 ) 2 \cos^2 A = \left( \frac{3}{5} \right)^2 , which doesn't imply that cos A = 3 5 \cos A = \frac{3}{5} .

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years ago

In the image, C D CD is constructed so that C D A B CD\perp AB .

sin ( A ) = C D A C = 4 5 \sin(A)=\frac{CD}{AC}=\frac{4}{5}

cos ( A ) = A D A C = 3 5 \cos(A)=\frac{AD}{AC}=\frac{3}{5}

sin ( B ) = C D B C = 12 13 \sin(B)=\frac{CD}{BC}=\frac{12}{13}

cos ( B ) = B D B C = 5 13 \cos(B)=\frac{BD}{BC}=\frac{5}{13}

sin ( C ) = sin ( ( 90 A ) + ( 90 B ) ) = sin ( 180 ( A + B ) = sin ( A + B ) = sin ( A ) cos ( B ) + cos ( A ) sin ( B ) = 4 5 × 5 13 + 3 5 × 12 13 = 56 65 \sin(C) = \sin((90-A)+(90-B)) = \sin(180-(A+B)=\sin(A+B) = \sin(A)\cos(B)+\cos(A)\sin(B) = \frac{4}{5}\times\frac{5}{13}+\frac{3}{5}\times\frac{12}{13}=\boxed{\frac{56}{65}}

You are making a huge assumption about what the triangle must look like.

Why must cos A, B be positive?

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years ago
Karthik Akondi
May 4, 2015

sin b = 12/13 multiplying it by 5 then sin b = 60/65 sin a =4/5 multiplying it by 13 then sin a = 52/65 . so we can conclude from sin (theeta) = opposite/ hypotenuse , that 65 is hypotenuse . so the options may be B or C by taking a chance i chose the option 56/65 its correct PLEASE POST A BETTER SOLUTION

Chew-Seong Cheong
May 25, 2015

The problem can also be solved by equating the opposite sides (the altitude) of A \angle A and B \angle B see the diagram below.

Then by using Cosine Rule, we have:

1 4 2 = 1 5 2 + 1 3 2 2 ( 15 ) ( 13 ) cos ( C ) cos ( C ) = 1 5 2 + 1 3 2 1 4 2 2 ( 15 ) ( 13 ) = 33 65 sin ( C ) = 1 ( 33 65 ) 2 = 56 65 \begin{aligned} 14^2 & = 15^2+13^2-2(15)(13)\cos{(C)} \\ \cos{(C)} & = \frac{15^2+13^2 - 14^2} {2(15)(13)} = \frac{33}{65} \\ \Rightarrow \sin{(C)} & = \sqrt{1-\left(\frac{33}{65}\right)^2} = \boxed{\dfrac{56}{65}} \end{aligned}

Moderator note:

This solution makes the assumption that the triangle must be of a certain form.

There are actually 2 possible triangles which satisfy the conditions of the question. As it turns out, the sin of the third angle is the same, but the cosine of the third angle would be different.

Dhanya Jose
May 23, 2015

ABC is a triangle so total 180 degree

so sin inverse(4/5)+sin inverse(12/13)=120.51

180-120.51=59.49

sin(59.49)=0.86154

which is 56/65

Moderator note:

How would you know that sin(59.49)=0.86154 is EXACTLY equals to 56/65?

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