What

happens when we need to solve for triangles that are not

right triangles? We can use the law of sines to find the value of
missing sides or angles.
Law of Sines:

Part 1 (ASA):

• You can use the sine law to solve an acute triangle when you know two angles and any side.
(You can find the unknown angle).

Part 2 (SSA and the Ambiguous Case):

• Two sides and the angle opposite a known side. =

We need to consider the length of the known side in relationship to the height and the other known side.

Acute angle A:

Length a > b or a = b If a < b, then three things could happen:

One solution 1) a > h 2) a = h 3) a < h
2 possible triangles 1 possible triangle no possible triangles

Obtuse angle A:
a > b

One solution

Can you use the sine law to determine the length of the indicated side or angle in each case? Explain.

Example 1: Determine the indicated side length or angle measure, to two decimal places.

Example 2: In ∆𝐷𝐸𝐹, ∠𝐷 = 61°, 𝑑 = 23.9𝑐𝑚, and ∠𝐸 = 38°. Determine e, to one decimal place.

Example 3: Determine the number of triangles, if any, that can be drawn having the given dimensions.

a.) DABC, ÐA =51°, a = 10 and b = 12 b.) DXYZ, ÐZ =125°, x = 6.53 and z = 8.44

c.) DPQR, ÐR = 47°, p = 5 and r = 3.9 d.) DDOG, ÐO =95°, g = 7 and o = 10

e.) DABC, ÐC =53°, b = 5.1 and c = 4.07



Example 3: Solve the following triangle for all possible solutions. [Example 2-(c)]:

DPQR, ÐR = 47°, p = 5 and r = 3.9

Textbook: #1-6, 8, 9, 11, 14