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In △ABC, m∠A=23°, a=10, and b=13. Find c to the nearest tenth.

User Gosha A
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1 Answer

9 votes

9514 1404 393

Answer:

c ∈ {3.4, 20.6}

Explanation:

The law of cosines can be used to write a quadratic equation in c.

a^2 = b^2 + c^2 -2bc·cos(A)

10^2 = 13^2 + c^2 -2(13)c ·cos(23°)

c^2 -23.933c +69 = 0 . . . . . subtract 100 to put into standard form.

c = (-(-23.933) ±√((-23.933)^2 -4(1)(69)))/(2(1))

c ≈ 11.967 ± √74.199

c ≈ {3.4, 20.6}

_____

Additional comment

The given angle is opposite the shorter of the two given sides, so we expect two solutions. We could use the law of sines, but this works just as well and gives the two solutions directly, without having to find angle B.

In △ABC, m∠A=23°, a=10, and b=13. Find c to the nearest tenth.-example-1
In △ABC, m∠A=23°, a=10, and b=13. Find c to the nearest tenth.-example-2
User Dave Alperovich
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6.1k points