In triangle ABC, how do you solve the right triangle given 12, 12 & 20 as sides?

1 Answer
Oct 19, 2015

Largest angle #~=1.970 ("radians") ~= 112.9^@#
Other two angles #~= 0.586 ("radians") ~= 33.6^@#

Explanation:

Note: despite the question statement, a triangle with sides #12, 12, 20# is not a right triangle (the sides do not satisfy the Pythagorean Theorem).

The Cosine Law tells us:
#cos(c) = (a^2+b^2-c^2)/(2ab)#

Setting #c# as the longest side (#20#)
we can calculate
#color(white)("XXX")cos(c) = 7/18#

Then use a calculator (or similar) determine
#color(white)("XXX")c= arcsin(7/18) = 1.970# (radians)

Similar calculations can be made for #a# and #b#
or
noting that #a=b# and #a+b+c=pi# we can calculate #a# and #b" that way.