Digital Library of Mathematical Functions
About the Project
NIST
4 Elementary FunctionsApplications

§4.42 Solution of Triangles

Contents

§4.42(i) Planar Right Triangles

See accompanying text
Figure 4.42.1: Planar right triangle. Magnify
4.42.1\mathop{\sin\/}\nolimits A=\frac{a}{c}=\frac{1}{\mathop{\csc\/}\nolimits A},
4.42.2\mathop{\cos\/}\nolimits A=\frac{b}{c}=\frac{1}{\mathop{\sec\/}\nolimits A},
4.42.3\mathop{\tan\/}\nolimits A=\frac{a}{b}=\frac{1}{\mathop{\cot\/}\nolimits A}.

§4.42(ii) Planar Triangles

See accompanying text
Figure 4.42.2: Planar triangle. Magnify
4.42.4\frac{a}{\mathop{\sin\/}\nolimits A}=\frac{b}{\mathop{\sin\/}\nolimits B}=%
\frac{c}{\mathop{\sin\/}\nolimits C},
4.42.5c^{2}=a^{2}+b^{2}-2ab\mathop{\cos\/}\nolimits C,
4.42.6a=b\mathop{\cos\/}\nolimits C+c\mathop{\cos\/}\nolimits B
4.42.7\hbox{area}=\tfrac{1}{2}bc\mathop{\sin\/}\nolimits A=\left(s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)%
\right)^{{1/2}},

where s=\tfrac{1}{2}(a+b+c) (the semiperimeter).

§4.42(iii) Spherical Triangles

See accompanying text
Figure 4.42.3: Spherical triangle. Magnify

For these and other formulas see Smart (1962, Chapter 1).