SOLUTION: Can you use the Law of Cosines if you are given a = 41, b = 55 and the measure of angle A equals 56 degrees? Why or why not?
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Question 765354: Can you use the Law of Cosines if you are given a = 41, b = 55 and the measure of angle A equals 56 degrees? Why or why not? Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source):
The law of cosines only works when given the measure of two sides and the measure of the INCLUDED angle. The law of cosines would only work for your triangle if the parts of the triangle were labeled in a non-standard way such that angle A is the angle included between side a and side b. If your triangle is labeled in the standard fashion such that the label on each angle is the capital letter that matches the lower case letter on the side opposite the angle, then Cosines won't work. You need the Law of Sines to solve your triangle.
John
Egw to Beta kai to Sigma
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
