How do you use the law of sines to solve the triangle given C = 67°, a = 21, c = 20?

1 Answer
May 4, 2015

Given two sides of a triangle and a non-contained angle on the longer side, two different triangles are possible.
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Casual application of the Sine Law will only give you one of these.
unless you are very careful.

By the Sine Law
#(sin(A))/(21) = (sin(67^o))/20#

#sin(A) = 0.96653#

According to Excel (and I assume any standard calculator)
#arcsin(0.96653) = 75.13436^o#

That is #sin(75.13436^o) = 0.96653#

BUT
#sin(180^o - 75.13436)#
#=sin(104.86564^o)#
#=0.96653# also

So A could be (approx.) #75^o#
or A could be (approx.) #105^o#

and you will need to calculate the third angle and side separately for each of these possibilities