What is the easiest way to solve the ambiguous case in terms of the law of sines?

1 Answer
May 5, 2018

As described.

Explanation:

The ambiguous case occurs when one uses the law of sines to determine missing measures of a triangle when given two sides and an angle opposite one of those angles (SSA).

In this ambiguous case, three possible situations can occur: 1) no triangle with the given information exists, 2) one such triangle exists, or 3) two distinct triangles may be formed that satisfy the given conditions. These possibilities are summarised in the diagrams below:

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