Sine, Cosine

and Area Rules

Grade 11
CAPS
Mathematics
Series
 Outcomes for this Topic
In this topic we will:
Calculate the area of a triangle given an angle and the two
adjacent sides. Unit 1

Apply the Sine Rule for triangles to calculate an unknown

side or an unknown angle of a given triangle. Unit 2

Apply the Cosine Rule for triangles to calculate an unknown

side or an unknown angle of a given triangle. Unit 3

Apply the Sine and the Cosine rules to solve

problems in 2-dimensions. Unit 4
 Unit 1

The Area Rule Grade 11

CAPS
Mathematics
Series
 Some basic definitions – a reminder
Trigonometric Ratios
In a right angled triangle, the 3 trigonometric ratios for an angle
 are defined as follows:

hypotenuse
opposite


adjacent

opposite opposite adjacent

sin   tan   cos  
hypotenuse adjacent hypotenuse
 The area formula of a triangle
Consider a non-right angled triangle ABC.
a , b and c are the sides opposite angles A, B and C respectively.
( This is the conventional way of labelling a triangle ).
Draw the perpendicular, h, from C to BA. C
1
Area of   base  height
2
 A re a  12 c  h --- (1) b a
h h
In  A C N , sin A 
 b sin A  h b
A B
Substituting for h in (1) c N
 A re a  1
2 c b sin A A re a  1
2 b c sin A
 Different forms of the area formula
A similar argument gives the same formula for the area
if B is obtuse i.e. B  90
The formula always uses C
• 2 sides and the
• angle formed by those sides (Included )
b
h
Any angle can be used as such in a
area formula, so
 90
A N
c B
1 1 1
Area = 2 ab sin C = 2 bc sin A = 2 ca sin B
Three possible approaches to find
the area of a triangle
Any angle can be used in the formula, so
C
C Area  1
2 bc sin A
b a
b a
A C B
c
A c B
Area  12 ca sin B
Area  12 ab sin C b a

A c B
 The area of a triangle – Example 1
Find the area of ABC in circle C .
A useful application of the area formula occurs when we
have a triangle formed by a radius and a chord of a circle.

1
A Area   CA  CB  sin C
r 2

C  But CA  CB  r
r 1 2
 Area  r sin 
B 2
 The area of a triangle – Example 2
Find the area of PQR.
Solution: We must use the angle formed by the
2 sides with the given lengths.
We know PQ and RQ so use the included angle Q
1
Area of PQR   QP  QR  sin Q
2
1
  8  7  sin 64 cm 2

2
64  25, 2 cm 2
T u to ria l 1 : A re a o f a T ria n g le
Find the areas of the triangles shown in the diagrams.
Give your answers accurate to 2 decimal digits

1. 2.

radius  6 cm
AOB  120

PAUSE
• Do Tutorial 1
• Then View Solutions
T u to ria l 1 : P ro b le m 1 : A re a o f a T ria n g le : S o lu tio n
radius  6 cm
Given: AOB  120

1 2
2. Area AOB   r  sin O
2
1
   6 cm   sin120
2

2
 15,59 cm 2
T u to ria l 1 : P ro b le m 2 : A re a o f a T ria n g le : S o lu tio n
Y  180   40  30   110
40
8 cm 30
10 cm
1
1. Area XYZ   XY  YZ  sin Y
2
1
  z  x  sin Y
2
1
  8 10  sin 110  cm 2

2
 37,59 cm 2
 Unit 2

The Sine Rule Grade 11

CAPS
Mathematics
Series
T h e S in e R u le f o r T r ia n g le s
One way to find unknown sides and angles in non - right angled
triangles is by using the Sine Rule:
Suppose ABC is a scalene triangle Drop CN  AB
h
In ACN, sin A 
b b a
 h  b sin A h
h
In BCN , sin B  c N
a
 h  a sin B or sin A  sin B
b sin A  a sin B a b
T h e C o m p le te S in e R u le f o r T r ia n g le s
ABC can be turned so that BC is the base.
We then get
Now h  c sin B  b sin C
sin B sin C
C   A
b c
b a

c b
h
A c B

sin A sin B sin C

So   C
a b c B a
W h e n d o w e u s e th e S in e R u le ?
The sine rule can be used in a triangle when:
• Two angles and a side are given
• To calculate second side

• Two sides and the non-included angle are given

To calculate second angle

•
A p p lic a tio n o f th e S in e R u le - E x a m p le 1
In ABC , find the size of angles A and C.
sin A sin B
Solution: Use 
a b
a sin B
 sin A 
b
10 sin 62 
 sin A 
12
 A  47, 4 A is opposite the shorter of the 2 given sides.
A  62  A must be an acute angle.
(Only one possibility as can be seen from sketch)

T hus  C  180  62  47 , 4  70 ,6

A p p lic a tio n o f th e S in e R u le - E x a m p le 2
In PQR it is given that:
QR  5, PR  4 and Q  48.
Determine P.
P is opposite the longer of the 2 given sides.
P  48  P can be an acute or obtuse angle.
(  Two possibilities as can be seen from sketch below)
sin Q sin P P2
Solution : Use 
q p
p sin Q 5  sin 48 
 sin P   P1
q 4
  P2  68, 3  or
 P1  180   68, 3   111, 7 
A p p lic a tio n o f th e S in e R u le - E x a m p le 3
In XYZ , find the length XY .
Solution : As the unknown is a side, we use the sine rule in
its reciprocal form. The unknown side is then at the top.
z y

sin Z sin Y
y sin Z
z 
sin Y
13 sin 55 
 z
sin 29 
 z  22 , 0
 T u to r ia l 2 : S in e R u le
1. In ABC , find B.
(Correct to two decimal places)

2. In PQR, find QR and the area of PQR

PAUSE
• Do Tutorial 2
• Then View Solutions
T u to ria l 2 : P ro b le m 1 : S in e ru le : S o lu tio n
Find B. Given:
(2 decimal places)
B  35  B acute or obtuse
Two Possible Answers!!
sin A sin B sin 35 sin B
  
a b 7 10
10sin 35
 sin B 
7
 B1  55,02
or B2  180  55, 02  124,98
T u to ria l 2 : P ro b le m 1 : W h y tw o s o lu tio n s ?
Obtained: B1  55, 02 Given:
or B2  124,98

B  35  B acute or obtuse

B1 (Obtuse) B2 (Acute)

T u to ria l 2 : P ro b le m 2 : S in e ru le : S o lu tio n
2. Find QR and the area of PQR.
QR 67 Given:

sin 64 sin 80
67 sin 64
 QR   61,15 cm
sin 80
1 R  80
Area of PQR   QP  QR  sin 36
2
1
  67  61,15  sin 36
2
 1 204, 09 cm 2
 Unit 3

The Cosine Rule Grade 11

CAPS
Mathematics
Series
T h e C o s in e R u le fo r T ria n g le s
The Cosine Rule for ABC is given by:
a  b  c  2bc cos A
2 2 2 C

Symmetry also implies that:

b a
b  a  c  2ac cos B
2 2 2

or A c B

c  a  b  2ab sin C
2 2 2

We use this form to find the third side when

two sides and included angle are given.
 P ro o f o f th e C o s in e R u le
In CAD :
x b a
cos A  and b  x  h
2 2 2
h
b
x cx
In BCD :
a  h   c  x   h  c  2cx  x
2 2 2 2 2 2

 a   b  x   c  2c  b cos A  x
2 2 2 2 2

 b  c  2bc cos A
2 2

Proofs for symmetrical results are similar.

A s e c o n d fo rm o f th e C o s in e R u le
Know: a  b  c  2bc cos A
2 2 2

 2bc cos A  b  c  a
2 2 2

b c a
2 2 2
 cos A 
2bc

We use this form to find any angle of

a triangle when we know all 3 sides.
A p p lic a tio n s o f th e C o s in e R u le - E x a m p le 1
Find p in the PQR
Q Apply the Cosine Rule
p
6
120
R
P 7
p  q  r  2qr cos P
2 2 2

 p  7  6  2  7  6  cos120
2 2 2
 127
 p  11, 3 1 decimal accuracy 
A p p lic a tio n s o f th e C o s in e R u le - E x a m p le 2
Find X in the XYZ
Solution: Use the Cosine Rule
y z x
2 2 2
X 8 Z
cos X 
2 yz
6 4
82  6 2  4 2 Y
 cos X 
2(8)(6)
 X  29, 0 ( 1 dec )
A p p lic a tio n s o f th e C o s in e R u le  E x a m p le 3
Find side c and B in the given ABC .
A
Cosine rule: b  15

c  b  a  2ba cos C
2 2 2 c

30 
C B
a  19
 c  15  19  2(15)(19) cos 30
2 2 2

 c  9, 61 ( 2 decimal places )
sin B sin C  sin B  15 sin 30
Sine rule:  9 , 61
b c
 B  51,3 ( 1 dec. )
 T u to r ia l 3 : C o s in e R u le
1. Given ABC with AB  6 cm; BC  4 cm and
ABC  60. Find AC correct to 2 decimal digits.

2. Find all the angles in XYZ , giving your

answers to one decimal place accuracy.

PAUSE
• Do Tutorial 3
• Then View Solutions
T u to rial 3 : P ro b lem 1 : C o sin e R u le: S o lu tio n
Find AC (2 dec accuracy): Given:

AC  BC  AB  2  BC  AB  cos ABC
2 2 2

 4  6  2  4  6  cos 60
2 2

 28
 AC  28  5, 29 cm
T u to ria l 3 : P ro b le m 2 : C o s in e R u le : S o lu tio n
Determine all angle measures of XYZ.
y z x
2 2 2
Given:
cos X 
2 yz
42  92  7 2
Hence cos X   X  48, 2
2  4  9 
sin X sin Y y sin X 4sin 48.2
Now   sin Y  
x y x 7
 Y  25, 2
Then Z  180   X  Y   106, 6
 Unit 4

Basic Applications:
CAPS
Problems in 2-D Mathematics
Series
 Problems in 2  dimensions: Example 1
1. Points A and B are in the same horizontal plane as C ,
the foot of a vertical tower PC. B  42; PAC  65
and AB  25 m. Calculate PC.
Sine rule: BPA  65  42  23
P
AP 25

sin 42 sin 23 23
25sin 42 42 65
 AP   42,81 m
sin 23 B
25 m
A C
PC AP is unknown and needed to
sin 65  find PC (PAC is known)
AP
 PC  AP sin 65  42,81sin 65  38,8 m
 Problems in 2  dimensions: Example 2
2. In the figure QR represents a proposed tunnel.
Q and R are visible from a point P.
The three points are in the same plane.
Given:
Q R
QP  100 m; PR  60 m
and QPR  110 100
110
60
Calculate the length of tunnel. P
QR  100  60  2 100  60  cos110
2 2 2

 QR  133 m
T u to ria l 4 : P a rt 1 : P ro b le m s in 2  D
1. From the ends of a bridge AB, 101 metres long,
the angles of depression of a point P on the ground
directly under the bridge is 42,2 and 70,1.
Find the height, h, of the bridge under this point.

101 m
A B
42, 2 70,1
h PAUSE
• Do Tutorial 4 Part 1
• Then View Solutions
P
T u to ria l 4 : P a rt 1 : S u g g e s te d S o lu tio n
101 m
A B Question: Find h
42, 2 70,1
h

P
APB  180   42, 2  70,1   67, 7
AP 101 101 m  sin 70,1
  AP 
sin 70,1 sin 67, 7 sin 67, 7
 AP  102, 65 m But sin 42, 2 
h
102, 65
 h  102, 65  sin 42, 2  68, 95 m
T u to ria l 4 : P a rt 2 : P ro b le m s in 2 -D
2. ABCD is a wall of a room, AD being the
line of the ceiling. EF is a picture rail,
with E being directly below A.
AE = 2 metres; ACB  x and ECB  y
2cos x
(a) Prove that EC 
sin( x  y ) 2m
(b) Find the length and height
y x
of the wall if x  33
and y  20.
PAUSE
• Do Tutorial 4 Part 2
• Then View Solutions
T u t o r i a l 4 : P a r t 2 ( a ) S o lu t i o n
2.(a) Prove that x
2m
2 cos x
EC 
sin( x  y ) y x
Now ACE  x  y and CAD  x
Hence, CAE  90  x
From AEC : EC

2
sin  90  x  sin  x  y 
2sin  90  x  2 cos x
 EC  
sin  x  y  sin  x  y 
Tutorial 4: Part 2: Length & Height of Room
Know:
2 cos x 2m
EC 
sin  x  y  x
y
x  33 and y  20
2 cos 33
EC   7, 46 m
sin13
BC
cos y   BC  EC  cos y
EC
 Length of room  BC  7, 46 m  cos 20  7,01 m
Height of room:
EB  2  EC  sin y  2  2  7, 46  sin 33  6,06 m
 End of the Topic Slides on
Sine, Cosine and Area Rules

REMEMBER!
• Consult text-books and past exam papers and
memos for additional examples.
• Attempt as many as possible other similar examples
on your own.
• Compare your methods with those that were
discussed in these Topic slides.
• Repeat this procedure until you are confident.

• Do not forget: Practice makes perfect!