CHAPTER 41 NON-RIGHT-ANGLED TRIANGLES AND SOME

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

EXERCISE 171 Page 467

1. Use the sine rule to solve triangle ABC and find its area, given: A = 29°, B = 68°, b = 27 mm

Triangle ABC is shown below

∠C = 180° – 68° – 29° = 83°

27 a 27 sin 29°
From the sine rule, = from which, a = = 14.1 mm
sin 68° sin 29° sin 68°

c 27 27 sin 83°
Also from the sine rule, = from which, c = = 28.9 mm
sin 83° sin 68° sin 68°

1 1
=
Area = ab sin C (14.1)(27) sin 83° = 189 mm 2
2 2

2. Use the sine rule to solve triangle ABC and find its area, given: B = 71°26', C = 56°32',

b = 8.60 cm

Triangle ABC is shown below

∠A = 180° – 71°26′ – 56°32′ = 52°2′

8.60 c 8.60sin 56°32 '

From the sine rule, = from which, c = = 7.568 cm
sin 71°26 ' sin 56°32 ' sin 71°26 '
687 © 2014, John Bird
 a 8.60 8.60sin 52°2 '
Also from the sine rule, = from which, a = = 7.152 cm
sin 52°2 ' sin 71°26 ' sin 71°26 '

1 1
=
Area = ac sin B (7.152)(7.568) sin 71°26 ' = 25.65 cm 2
2 2

3. Use the sine rule to solve triangle DEF and find its area, given: d = 17 cm, f = 22 cm, F = 26°

Triangle DEF is shown below

22 17 17 sin 26°
From the sine rule, = from which, sin D = = 0.33874134
sin 26° sin D 22

and D = sin −1 0.33874134 = 19.80° or 19°48′

Hence, ∠E = 180° – 26° – 19.80° = 134.20 or 134°12′

22 e 22sin134.20°
From the sine rule, = from which, e = = 36.0 cm
sin 26° sin134.20° sin 26°

1 1
=
Area = de sin F (17)(36.0) sin 26° = 134 cm 2
2 2

4. Use the sine rule to solve triangle DEF and find its area, given: d = 32.6 mm, e = 25.4 mm,

D = 104°22'

Triangle DEF is shown below

32.6 25.4 25.4sin104°22 '

From the sine rule, = from which, sin E = = 0.75477555
sin104°22 ' sin E 32.6

688 © 2014, John Bird

 and E = sin −1 0.75477555 = 49.0° or 49°0′

Hence, ∠F = 180° – 104°22′ – 49°0′ = 26°38′

32.6 f 32.6sin 26°38'

From the sine rule, = from which, f = = 15.09 mm
sin104°22 ' sin 26°38' sin104°22 '

1 1
=
Area = de sin F (32.6)(25.4) sin 26°38' = 185.6 mm 2
2 2

5. Use the sine rule to solve triangle JKL and find its area, given: j = 3.85 cm, k = 3.23 cm, K = 36°

Triangle JKL is shown below

3.23 3.85 3.85sin 36°

From the sine rule, = from which, sin J = = 0.7006109
sin 36° sin J 3.23

and J = sin −1 0.7006109 = 44.476° = 44°29′

or J = 180° – 44°29′ = 135°31′

Case 1: When J = 44°29′, ∠L = 180° – 36° – 44°29′ = 99°31′

l 3.23 3.23sin 99°31'

From the sine rule, = from which, l = = 5.420 cm
sin 99°31' sin 36° sin 36°

1 1
=
Area = lj sin K (5.420)(3.85) sin 36° = 6.133 cm 2
2 2

Case 2: When J = 135°31′, ∠L = 180° – 135°31′ – 36° = 8°29′

l 3.23 3.23sin 8°29 '

From the sine rule, = from which, l = = 0.811 cm
sin 8°29 ' sin 36° sin 36°

1 1
=
Area = jk sin L (3.85)(3.23) sin 8°29 ' = 0.917 cm 2
2 2

6. Use the sine rule to solve triangle JKL and find its area, given: k = 46 mm, l = 36 mm, L = 35°

689 © 2014, John Bird

Triangle JKL is shown below

36 46 46sin 35°
From the sine rule, = from which, sin K = = 0.73290322
sin 35° sin K 36

and K = sin −1 0.73290322 = 47.13° = 47°8′

or K = 180° – 47.13° = 132.87° = 132°52′

Case 1: When K = 47°8′, ∠J = 180° – 35° – 47°8′ = 97°52′

j 36 36sin 97°52 '

From the sine rule, = from which, j = = 62.17
sin 97°52 ' sin 35° sin 35°
= 62.2 mm

1 1
=
Area = lj sin K (36)(62.17) sin 47°8' = 820.2 mm 2
2 2

Case 2: When K = 132°52′, ∠J = 180° – 132°52′ – 35° = 12°8′

j 36 36sin12°8'
From the sine rule, = from which, j = = 13.19 mm
sin12°8' sin 35° sin 35°

1 1
=
Area = jk sin L (13.19)(46) sin 35° = 174.0 mm 2
2 2

690 © 2014, John Bird

EXERCISE 172 Page 469

1. Use the cosine and sine rules to solve triangle PQR and find its areas, given: q = 12 cm,

r = 16 cm, P = 54°

Triangle PQR is shown below

By the cosine rule, p 2 = 122 + 162 − 2(12)(16) cos 54°

= 144+ 256 – (225.7095) = 174.2905

and p = 174.2905 = 13.202 = 13.2 cm

13.202 16 16sin 54°

From the sine rule, = from which, sin R = = 0.9804781
sin 54° sin R 13.202

and R = sin −1 0.9804781 = 78.66°

∠Q = 180° – 54° – 78.66° = 47.34°

1
Area = (12)(16) sin 54° = 77.7 cm 2
2

2. Use the cosine and sine rules to solve triangle PQR and find its areas, given: q = 3.25 m,

r = 4.42 m, P = 105°

Triangle PQR is shown below

By the cosine rule, p 2 = 4.422 + 3.252 − 2(4.42)(3.25) cos105°

= 19.5364 + 10.5625 – (–7.4359) = 37.5348

691 © 2014, John Bird
and p= 37.5348 = 6.127 m

6.127 4.42 4.42sin105°

From the sine rule, = from which, sin R = = 0.696816
sin105° sin R 6.127

and R = sin −1 0.696816 = 44.17°

∠Q = 180° – 105° – 44.17° = 30.83°

1
Area = (4.42)(3.25) sin105° = 6.938 m 2
2

3. Use the cosine and sine rules to solve triangle XYZ and find its areas, given: x = 10.0 cm,

y = 8.0 cm, z = 7.0 cm

Triangle XYZ is shown below.

By the cosine rule, 10.02 = 8.02 + 7.02 − 2(8.0)(7.0) cos X

8.02 + 7.02 − 10.02

from which, cos X = = 0.116071428
2(8.0)(7.0)
and ∠X = cos −1 (0.116071428) = 83.33°

10 8.0 8sin 83.33°

From the sine rule, = from which, sin Y = = 0.79458528
sin 83.33° sin Y 10

and ∠Y = sin −1 0.79458528 = 52.62°

Hence, ∠Z = 180° – 83.33° – 52.62° = 44.05°

1
Area = (8.0)(7.0) sin 83.33° = 27.8 cm 2
2

692 © 2014, John Bird

4. Use the cosine and sine rules to solve triangle XYZ and find its areas, given: x = 21 mm,

y = 34 mm, z = 42 mm

Triangle XYZ is shown below

By the cosine rule, 212 = 422 + 342 − 2(42)(34) cos X

422 + 342 − 212

from which, cos X = = 0.867997
2(42)(34)
and ∠X = cos −1 (0.867997) = 29.77°

21 34 34sin 29.77°
From the sine rule, = from which, sin Y = = 0.8038888
sin 29.77° sin Y 21

and ∠Y = sin −1 0.8038888 = 53.50°

Hence, ∠Z = 180° – 29.77° – 53.50° = 96.73°

1
Area = (21)(34) sin 96.73° = 355 mm 2
2

693 © 2014, John Bird

EXERCISE 173 Page 471

1. A ship P sails at a steady speed of 45 km/h in a direction of W 32° N (i.e. a bearing of 302°) from

a port. At the same time another ship Q leaves the port at a steady speed of 35 km/h in a direction

N 15° E (i.e. a bearing of 015°). Determine their distance apart after four hours.

After four hours ship P has travelled 4 × 45 = 180 km

After four hours ship Q has travelled 4 × 35 = 140 km

A diagram below shows the paths OA and OB taken by the two ships. Their distance apart after four

hours is given by AB.

Using the cosine rule: AB 2 = 1802 + 1402 − 2(180)(140) cos(58 + 15)°

= 37 264.466

and distance apart after fourhours, AB = 37264.466 = 193 km

2. Two sides of a triangular plot of land are 52.0 m and 34.0 m, respectively. If the area of the plot is

620 m2, find (a) the length of fencing required to enclose the plot and (b) the angles of the

triangular plot.

The triangular plot of land ABC is shown below.

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 1 620
(a) Area = 620 = (52.0)(34.0)sin A from which, sin A = = 0.701357
2 1
(52.0)(34.0)
2
and ∠A = sin −1 0.701357 = 44.54°

By the cosine rule, BC 2 = (52.0) 2 + (34.0) 2 − 2(52.0)(34.0) cos 44.54° = 1339.677

and BC = 1339.677 = 36.6 m

Hence, length of fencing required = AB + BC + CA = 52.0 + 36.6 + 34.0 = 122.6 m

1 2(620)
(b) Area = 620 = (52.0)(36.6)sin B from which, sin B =
2 (52.0)(36.6)

 2(620) 
and ∠B = sin −1   = 40.66°
 (52.0)(36.6) 
∠A = 44.54° hence, ∠C = 180° – 44.54° – 40.66° = 94.80°

3. A jib crane is shown below. If the tie rod PR is 8.0 long and PQ is 4.5 m long, determine

(a) the length of jib RQ, and (b) the angle between the jib and the tie rod.

(a) Using the cosine rule on triangle PQR shown below gives:

RQ 2 = 8.02 + 4.52 − 2(8.0)(4.5) cos130° = 130.53

and jib, RQ = 130.53 = 11.43 m = 11.4 m, correct to 3 significant figures

695 © 2014, John Bird

 4.5 11.43 4.5sin130°
(b) From the sine rule, = from which, sin R = = 0.3015923
sin R sin130° 11.43

and the angle between the jib and the tie rod, ∠R = sin −1 0.3015923 = 17.55°

4. A building site is in the form of a quadrilateral as shown, and its area is 1510 m2.

Determine the length of the perimeter of the site.

The quadrilateral is split into two triangles as shown in the diagram below

1 1
Area = 1510 = (52.4)(28.5)sin 72° + (34.6)(x)sin 75°
2 2

i.e. 1510 = 710.15 + 16.71x

1510 − 710.15
from which, x= = 47.87 m
16.71

Hence, perimeter of quadrilateral = 52.4 + 28.5 + 34.6 + 47.9 = 163.4 m

5. Determine the length of members BF and EB in the roof truss shown below.

696 © 2014, John Bird

Using the cosine rule on triangle ABF gives: BF 2 = 2.52 + 52 − 2(2.5)(5) cos 50° = 15.18

from which, BF = 15.18 = 3.9 m

Using the sine rule on triangle ABF gives:

3.9 2.5 2.5sin 50°

= from which, sin B = = 0.491054
sin 50° sin B 3.9

and ∠ABF = sin −1 0.491054 = 29.41°

Assuming ∠ABE = 90°, then ∠FBE = 90° – 29.41° = 60.59°

Using the sine rule on triangle BEF gives:

4 3.9 3.9sin 60.59°

= from which, sin E = = 0.8493499
sin 60.59° sin E 4

and ∠E = sin −1 0.8493499 = 58.14°

Thus, ∠EFB =180° – 58.14° – 60.59° = 61.27°

Using the sine rule on triangle BEF again gives:

BE 4 4sin 61.27°
= from which, BE = = 4.0 m
sin 61.27° sin 60.59 sin 60.59°

6. A laboratory 9.0 m wide has a span roof which slopes at 36° on one side and 44° on the other.

Determine the lengths of the roof slopes.

A cross-sectional view is shown below

Angle ABC = 180° – 36° – 44° = 100°

AB 9.0 9.0sin 44°

Using the sine rule, = from which, AB = = 6.35 m
sin 44° sin100° sin100°

BC 9.0 9.0sin 36°

and = from which, BC = = 5.37 m
sin 36° sin100° sin100°

697 © 2014, John Bird

7. PQ and QR are the phasors representing the alternating currents in two branches of a circuit.

Phasor PQ is 20.0 A and is horizontal. Phasor QR (which is joined to the end of PQ to form

triangle PQR) is 14.0 A and is at an angle of 35° to the horizontal. Determine the resultant phasor

PR and the angle it makes with phasor PQ.

Phasors PQ and QR are shown in the phasor diagram below.

Using the cosine rule, PR 2 = (20.0) 2 + (14.0) 2 − 2(20.0)(14.0) cos145° = 1054.725

from which, resultant phasor, PR = 1054.725 = 32.48 A

14.0 32.48 14.0sin145°

Using the sine rule, = from which, sin P = = 0.247231
sin P sin145° 32.48

and ∠P = sin −1 0.247231 = 14.31°

698 © 2014, John Bird

EXERCISE 174 Page 473

1. Three forces acting on a fixed point are represented by the sides of a triangle of dimensions

7.2 cm, 9.6 cm and 11.0 cm. Determine the angles between the lines of action and the three

forces.

The triangle of forces is shown below

Using the cosine rule, 11.02 = 9.62 + 7.22 − 2 ( 9.6 )( 7.2 ) cos B

9.62 + 7.22 − 11.02

from which, cos B = = 0.16638
2 ( 9.6 )( 7.2 )

and ∠B = cos −1 ( 0.16638 ) = 80.42°

11.0 7.2 7.2sin 80.42°

Using the sine rule, = from which, sin A = = 0.64542
sin 80.42° sin A 11.0

and ∠A = sin −1 0.64542 = 40.20°

Hence, ∠C = 180° – 80.42° – 40.20° = 59.38°

2. A vertical aerial AB, 9.60 m high, stands on ground which is inclined 12° to the horizontal. A

stay connects the top of the aerial A to a point C on the ground 10.0 m downhill from B, the foot

of the aerial. Determine (a) the length of the stay and (b) the angle the stay makes with the

ground.

A side view showing the aerial as AB is shown below

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(a) Using the cosine rule: AC 2= 10.02 + 9.602 − 2(10.0)(9.60) cos(90 + 12)°

= 232.07904

and length of stay, AC = 232.07904 = 15.23 m

15.23 9.60 9.60sin102°

(b) Using the sine rule: = from which, sin θ = = 0.61656053
sin102° sin θ 15.23

and ∠θ = sin −1 0.61656053 = 38.07°

Hence, the angle the stay makes with the ground = 38.07° + 12° = 30.07°

3. A reciprocating engine mechanism is shown below. The crank AB is 12.0 cm long and the

connecting rod BC is 32.0 cm long. For the position shown, determine the length of AC and the

angle between the crank and the connecting rod.

The mechanism is shown below with the measurements marked

32.0 12.0 12.0sin 40°

Using the sine rule, = from which, sin C = = 0.241045
sin 40° sin C 32.0
and ∠C = sin −1 0.241045 = 13.95°

The angle between the crank and the connecting rod, ∠ABC = 180° – 40° – 13.95°

= 126.05°
Using the sine rule gives:
700 © 2014, John Bird
 AC 32.0 32.0sin126.05°
= from which, AC = = 40.25 cm
sin126.05° sin 40° sin 40°
=
Alternatively, using the cosine rule, AC 2 12.02 + 32.02 − 2(12.0)(32.0) cos126.05
= ° 1619.9611

from which, AC = 1619.9611 = 40.25 cm

4. From the diagram in Problem 3, determine how far C moves, correct to the nearest millimetre,

when angle CAB changes from 40° to 160°, B moving in an anticlockwise direction.

A diagram showing the position of the crank and connecting rod when angle CAB is 160° is shown

below

32.0 12.0 12.0sin160°

Using the sine rule, = from which, sin C = = 0.1282576
sin160° sin C 32.0

and ∠C = sin −1 0.1282576 = 7.37°

Hence, ∠AB′C′ =180° – 7.37° – 160° = 12.63°

Using the sine rule again gives:

AC ' 32.0 32.0sin12.63°

= from which, AC′ = = 20.46 cm
sin12.63° sin160° sin160°

Hence, the distance that C moves, i.e. CC′ = AC – AC′ = 40.25 – 20.46 = 19.8 cm

5. A surveyor, standing W 25° S of a tower measures the angle of elevation of the top of the tower as

46°30'. From a position E 23° S from the tower the elevation of the top is 37°15'. Determine the

height of the tower if the distance between the two observations is 75 m.

A sketch is shown below, where AB is the height of the tower

701 © 2014, John Bird

 AB
Triangle ABC is right-angled, hence tan 46º30´ =
BC

AB
from which, BC = = 0.948965 AB
tan 46°30 '

AB
Similarly, triangle ABC is right-angled, hence tan 37º15´ =
BD

AB
from which, BD = = 1.315067AB
tan 37°15'

Using the cosine rule on triangle CBD, where angle B = 180° – 25° – 23° = 132° gives:

752 = BC 2 + BD 2 − 2( BC )( BD) cos132°

i.e. 752 = (0.948965 AB ) 2 + (1.315067 AB ) 2 − 2(0.948965 AB )(1.315067 AB) cos132°

i.e. =752 0.90053( AB) 2 + 1.72940( AB) 2 − (−1.67009 AB 2 )

i.e. 752 = 4.30002( AB) 2

752
from which, AB = = 36.2 m
4.30002

Hence, the height of the tower is 36.2 m

702 © 2014, John Bird

6. Calculate, correct to 3 significant figures, the coordinates x and y to locate the hole centre at P

shown below.

y
Tan (180° – 116°) = i.e. y = x tan 64° (1)
x

y
Tan (180° – 140°) = i.e. y = (x + 100) tan 40° (2)
x + 100

Equating (1) and (2) gives: x tan 64° = (x + 100) tan 40°

i.e. x tan 64° – x tan 40° = 100 tan 40°

and x(tan 64° – tan 40°) = 100 tan 40°

100 tan 40°

from which, x= = 69.278 mm = 69.3 mm, correct to 3 significant figures
( tan 64° − tan 40° )
Substituting in (1) gives: y = x tan 64° = 66.278 tan 64° = 142 mm

7. An idler gear, 30 mm in diameter, has to be fitted between a 70 mm diameter driving gear and a

90 mm diameter driven gear, as shown below. Determine the value of angle θ between the centre

lines.

703 © 2014, John Bird

The triangle involving angle θ is shown below,

where AB = 45 mm radius + 15 mm radius = 60 mm

and BC = 35 mm radius + 15 mm radius = 50 mm

Using the cosine rule gives: 99.782 = 602 + 502 − 2(60)(50) cos θ
602 + 502 − 99.782
from which, cos θ = = −0.642675
2(60)(50)
and angle, θ = cos −1 (−0.642675) = 130°

8. 16 holes are equally spaced on a pitch circle of 70 mm diameter. Determine the length of the

chord joining the centres of two adjacent holes.

If 16 holes are equally spaced around a circle of diameter 70 mm, i.e. radius 35 mm, then the holes
360°
are spaced = 22.5° apart
16

704 © 2014, John Bird

Length x in the diagram is the chord joining the centres of two adjacent holes.

Using the cosine rule, x=

2 352 + 352 − 2(35)(35) cos 22.5=
° 186.495

from which, x = 186.495 = 13.66 mm

705 © 2014, John Bird