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Use the information given in the diagrams to show that

Use the information given in the diagrams to show that-example-1
User Nayef Harb
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1 Answer

22 votes
22 votes

Answer:

d = k·sin(2θ)·sin(α)/(sin(θ)·sin(β))

Explanation:

The Law of Sines tells us that sides of a triangle are proportional to the sine of the opposite angle. This can be used along with a trig identity to demonstrate the required relation.

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top triangle

The law of sines applied to the top triangle is ...

BC/sin(A) = AC/sin(θ)

Triangle ABC is isosceles, so the base angles at B and C are congruent. Then the angle at vertex A is ...

∠A = 180° -θ -θ = 180° -2θ

A trig identity tells us the sine of an angle is equal to the sine of its supplement. That means the sine of angle A is ...

sin(A) = sin(180° -2θ) = sin(2θ)

and our above Law of Sines equation tells us ...

BC = sin(A)/sin(θ)·AC = k·sin(2θ)/sin(θ)

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bottom triangle

The law of sines applied to the bottom triangle is ...

DC/sin(B) = BC/sin(D)

d/sin(α) = BC/sin(β)

Multiplying by sin(α) we have ...

d = BC·sin(α)/sin(β)

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Using our expression for BC gives the desired relation:

d = k·sin(2θ)·sin(α)/(sin(θ)·sin(β))

User Alex Deft
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2.9k points