LAW OF SINES AMBIGUOUS CASE

a b c
= =
sinA sinB sinC

B B B

h h

A C A C A C1 C2
NO Triangle 1 Triangle 2 Triangle

Steps for Solving Law of Sines Ambiguous Case (SSA congruency):

1. Draw a triangle and label with the given data

2. Find your FRUIT angle using the Law of Sines

Fruit Angle = AOGS = Angle Opposite Given Side
Apples Oranges Grapes Strawberries
( i ) If you get “error”, then you are done - no triangle
( ii ) If you get an answer, then continue to solve for all missing parts of the triangle

3. Find you Supplemental Fruit = 180o - Fruit ∆

( i ) If Supplemental Fruit + Given Ange ≥ 180o, then done and you have one triangle solved
( ii ) If Supplemental Fruit + Given Angle < 180o, then two triangles and now solve for all
missing parts of this triangle

Examples: Solve ∆ ABC

1. A = 42o, a=5, b=10

1 B 2 Fruit = B

sinB sin 42o 10 (sin42o)

c 5 = sinB = sinB = -1.833
10 5 5

42o B = sin-1 ( -1.833 ) = Error

A 10 C NO Triangle

SSA
2. a = 15, C = 13, A = 41o

1 B 2 Fruit = C 3 Supplemental Fruit ( SF)

180o - Fruit
sinC sin41o 180o - C
=
13 15 13 15 SF = 180o - 35o = 145o
13(sin41o) Now check: SF + Given
41o sinC =
15 145o + 41o = 186o
A 5 C
186o ≥ 180o
sinC = 0.5686 Only 1 Triangle
SSA
C = 35o

13 15

41o 35o
A b C

A + B + C = 180o
41o + B + 35o = 180o
B = 104o

b 15
=
sin104o sin41o

15 (sin104o)
b =
sin41o
b = 22

13 104
o
15

41o 35o
A 22 C
1. A = 30o, a = 15, b = 20

1 B 2 Fruit = B 3 Supplemental Fruit ( SF)

180 - Fruit
o

sinB sin30o 180o - B

=
C 15 20 15 SF = 180o - 42o = 138o
20(sin30o) Now check: SF + Given
30o sinB =
15 138o + 30o = 168o
A 20 C
168o < 180o
sinB = 0.667 Two Triangles so now
SSA
B = sin-1 ( 0.667 ) solve for 2nd Triangle
with SF = B1
B = 42o
B1
B
138o
42 o C1 15
C 15
30o
30 o
A 20 C1
A 20 C

A + B + C = 180o A + B1 + C1 = 180o
30o + 42o + C = 180o 30o + 138o + C1 = 180o
C = 108o C = 12o

C 15 C1 15
= =
sin108o sin30o sin12o sin30o

15 (sin108o) 15 (sin12o)
C = C1 =
sin30o sin30o
C = 28.5 C1 = 6.24

B B1
42o 138o
28.5 15 6.24 15

30o 108o 30o 12o

A 20 C A 20 C1