Trignometry - Sides And Angles Of A Plane Triangle

Sides and Angles of a Plane Triangle

Let \(a, b, c\) be the sides opposite to the interior angles \(\alpha, \beta, \gamma\) respectively in a triangle. These formulas relate the sides and angles and are fundamental in triangle geometry and trigonometry.

Key Formulas

\[ \frac{a}{\sin \alpha} = \frac{b}{\sin \beta} = \frac{c}{\sin \gamma} \]

Law of Sines: The ratio of a side to the sine of its opposite angle is constant for all sides of a triangle.

\[ c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab \cos \gamma \]

Law of Cosines: Relates the length of one side of a triangle to the lengths of the other two sides and the cosine of the included angle.

\[ \frac{a + b}{a - b} = \tan \frac{\alpha + \beta}{2} \tan \frac{\alpha - \beta}{2} \]

Side Ratio Identity: Relates sums and differences of sides with tangents of half-angle sums and differences.

\[ \frac{a + b}{c} = \cos \frac{\alpha + \beta}{2} \sec \frac{\gamma}{2} \]

Ratio involving sum of sides and half-angles: Expresses the ratio in terms of cosine and secant of half-angles.

\[ \frac{a - b}{c} = \sin \frac{\alpha - \beta}{2} \csc \frac{\gamma}{2} \]

Ratio involving difference of sides and half-angles: Expresses the ratio in terms of sine and cosecant of half-angles.

\[ \sin \alpha = \frac{2bc}{a + b + c} \sqrt{(s - a)(s - b)(s - c)} \]

Sine in terms of sides and semiperimeter: Provides a formula for \(\sin \alpha\) using side lengths and semiperimeter \(s\).

\[ s = \frac{1}{2}(a + b + c) \]

Semiperimeter: Half the perimeter of the triangle, used in many triangle area and relation formulas.

Terminology

  • Semiperimeter (\(s\)): Half the sum of the three side lengths.
  • Half-Angle Functions: Functions evaluated at half the value of the angle, e.g. \(\sin \frac{\alpha}{2}\).
  • Law of Sines and Cosines: Fundamental laws connecting sides and angles in any triangle.

Applications

  • Determining unknown sides or angles in triangle problems.
  • Used in navigation, surveying, and engineering for precise measurements.
  • Essential for solving trigonometric equations involving triangles.
  • Foundation for more advanced geometric and trigonometric concepts.
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