AS-Level Maths:

Core 2
for Edexcel

C2.5 Trigonometry 2

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 The sine rule

The sine rule

The cosine rule
Contents

The area of a triangle using ½ ab sinC

Degrees and radians
Arc length and sector area
Solving equations using radians
Examination-style questions

2 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

The sine rule

Consider any triangle ABC:

If we drop a perpendicular
C h from C to AB, we can
divide the triangle into two
b a right-angled triangles; ACD
h and BDC.
a is the side opposite A and
A B
D b is the side opposite B.

h h
sin A = sin B =
b a
h = b sin A h = a sin B

So: b sin A = a sin B

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The sine rule

b sin A = a sin B
Dividing both sides of the equation by sin A and then by sin B
gives:
b a
=
sin B sin A

If we had dropped a perpendicular from A to BC we would have

found that:
b sin C = c sin B
Rearranging:

b c
=
sin B sin C
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The sine rule

For any triangle ABC:

b a

A c B

a b c sin A sin B sin C

= = or = =
sin A sin B sin C a b c

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Using the sine rule to find side lengths

If we are given two angles in a triangle and the length of a side

opposite one of the angles, we can use the sine rule to find the
length of the side opposite the other angle. For example:

Find the length of side a.

B Using the sine rule:

39° a 7
a =
sin 118° sin 39°
118°
7 sin 118°
C 7 cm A a =
sin 39°
a = 9.82 cm (to 2 d.p.)

6 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Using the sine rule to find angles

If we are given two side lengths in a triangle and the angle

opposite one of the given sides, we can use the sine rule to
find the angle opposite the other given side. For example:

Find the angle at B.

C Using the sine rule:
sin B sin 46°
=
8 cm
8 6
6 cm
8 sin 46°
sin B =
6
46° 8 sin 46°
A B B = sin –1
6
B = 73.56° (to 2 d.p.)
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Finding the second possible value

Suppose that in the last example we had not been given a

diagram but had only been told that AC = 8 cm, CB = 6 cm and
that the angle at A = 46°.
There is a second possible value for the angle at B.
Instead of this triangle …
… we could have this triangle.
C Remember: sin θ = sin (180° – θ)
So for every acute solution, there
8 cm is a corresponding obtuse solution.
6 cm
6 cm B = 73.56° (to 2 d.p.)
or
46°
A B B = 180° – 73.56°
B
= 106.44° (to 2 d.p.)
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Using the sine rule to solve triangles

9 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

 The cosine rule

The sine rule

The cosine rule
Contents

The area of a triangle using ½ ab sinC

Degrees and radians
Arc length and sector area
Solving equations using radians
Examination-style questions

10 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

The cosine rule

Consider any triangle ABC:

If we drop a perpendicular
C h from C to AB, we can
divide the triangle into two
right-angled triangles; ACD
b a
h and BDC.

A B a is the side opposite A and

x D c–x
b is the side opposite B.

c is the side opposite C. If AD = x, then the length BD can be

written as c – x.

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The cosine rule

C Using Pythagoras’ theorem

in triangle ACD:

b b2 = x2 + h2 1
h a
Also:
x
cos A =
A B b
x D c–x
x = b cos A 2

In triangle BCD:
a2 = (c – x)2 + h2
a2 = c2 – 2cx + x2 + h2
Substituting 1 and 2 gives: This is the
a2 = c2 – 2cb cos A + b2 cosine rule.
a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc cos A
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The cosine rule

For any triangle ABC:

A a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc cos A

c b or

B C cos A = b2 + c2 – a2
a 2bc

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Using the cosine rule to find side lengths

If we are given the length of two sides in a triangle and the size
of the angle between them, we can use the cosine rule to find
the length of the other side. For example:

Find the length of side a.

B a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc cos A
a 4 cm
a2 = 72 + 42 – (2 × 7 × 4 × cos 48°)
48° A
C a2 = 27.53 (to 2 d.p.)
7 cm
a = 5.25 cm (to 2 d.p.)

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Using the cosine rule to find angles

If we are given the lengths of all three sides in a triangle, we

can use the cosine rule to find the size of any one of the angles
in the triangle. For example:

Find the size of the angle at A.

B b2 + c2 – a2
cos A =
2bc

8 cm 42 + 62 – 82
6 cm cos A =
2×4×6
This is negative so
cos A = –0.25 A must be obtuse.
C 4 cm A A = cos–1 –0.25
A = 104.48° (to 2 d.p.)
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Using the cosine rule to solve triangles

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 The area of a triangle using ½ ab sinC

The sine rule

The cosine rule
Contents

The area of a triangle using ½ ab sin C

Degrees and radians
Arc length and sector area
Solving equations using radians
Examination-style questions

17 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

The area of a triangle

The area of a triangle is given by ½ × base × height.

Suppose that instead of the height of a triangle, we are given
the base, one of the sides and the included angle. For example:
What is the area of triangle ABC?
A We can find the height h using
the sine ratio.
4 cm
h h
= sin 47°
47° 4
B C
7 cm h = 4 sin 47°
Area of triangle ABC = ½ × base × height
= ½ × 7 × 4 sin 47°
= 10.2 cm2 (to 1 d.p.)
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The area of a triangle using ½ ab sin C

In general, the area of a triangle is equal to half the product

of two of the sides and the sine of the included angle.

c b

B C
a
1
Area of triangle ABC = ab sin C
2

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The area of a triangle using ½ ab sin C

20 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

 Degrees and radians

The sine rule

The cosine rule
Contents

The area of a triangle using ½ ab sin C

Degrees and radians
Arc length and sector area
Solving equations using radians
Examination-style questions

21 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Measuring angles in degrees

An angle is a measure of rotation.

The system of using degrees to measure angles, where 1° is

1
equal to 360 of a full turn, is attributed to the ancient
Babylonians.

The use of the number 360 is thought to originate from the

approximate number of days in a year.

360 is also a number that has a high number of factors and so

many fractions of a full turn can be written as a whole number
of degrees.
4
For example, 9 of a full turn is equal to 160°.

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Measuring angles in radians

In many mathematical and scientific applications, particularly in

calculus, it is more appropriate to measure angles in radians.
A full turn is divided into 2π radians.
Remember that the circumference of a circle of radius r is
equal to 2πr.
One radian is therefore equal to the angle subtended by an
arc of length r.

1 radian can be written as 1 rad or 1c.

r r
1 rad 2π rad = 360°
O r 360
So: 1 rad =  57.3
2

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Converting radians to degrees

We can convert radians to degrees using:

2π rad = 360°

Or: π rad = 180°

Radians are usually expressed as fractions or multiples of π so,
for example:
 180o 5 5 ×180 o
rad = = 90o rad = = 150o
2 2 6 6
If the angle is not given in terms of π, when using a calculator
for example, it can be converted to degrees by multiplying by
180
. For example:

180
2.5 rad = 2.5 × = 143.24 (to 2 d.p.)

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Converting degrees to radians

To convert degrees to radians we multiply by .
180
For example:
o   o
10  10
60 = 60 × = rad 200 = 200 × = rad
180 3 180 9
3 9

Sometimes angles are required to a given number of decimal

places, rather than as multiples of π, for example:

o 
37 = 37 × = 0.646c (to 3 d.p.)
180
Note that when radians are written in terms of π the units rad
or c are not normally needed.

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Converting between degrees and radians

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 Arc length and sector area

The sine rule

The cosine rule
Contents

The area of a triangle using ½ ab sin C

Degrees and radians
Arc length and sector area
Solving equations using radians
Examination-style questions

27 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Using radians to measure arc length

Suppose an arc AB of a circle of radius r subtends an angle of

θ radians at the centre.
If the angle at the centre is 1 radian
A then the length of the arc is r.
If the angle at the centre is 2 radians
r
then the length of the arc is 2r.
θ
B If the angle at the centre is 0.3 radians
O r
then the length of the arc is 0.3r.
In general:
Length of arc AB = θr
where θ is measured in radians.

When θ is measured in degrees the length of AB is × 2 r
360

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Finding the area of a sector

We can also find the area of a sector using radians.

Again suppose an arc AB subtends an angle of θ radians at
the centre O of a circle.
The angle at the centre of a full circle
A is 2π radians.
r So the area of the sector AOB is 2
θ of the area of the full circle.
B
O r 
 Area of sector AOB = × r2
2
1
In general: Area of sector AOB = 2 r2θ
where θ is measured in radians.

When θ is measured in degrees the area of AOB is × r2
360

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Finding chord length and sector area

A chord AB subtends an angle of 23 radians at the

centre O of a circle of radius 9 cm. Find in terms of π:
a) the length of the arc AB.
b) the area of the sector AOB.

a) length of arc AB = θr
A
2
2
= ×9
3 3
B = 6π cm
O 9 cm
b) area of sector AOB = 21 r2θ
1 2 2
= ×9 ×
2 3
= 27π cm2
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Finding the area of a segment

The formula for the area of a sector can be combined with the
formula for the area of a triangle to find the area of a segment.
For example:
A chord AB divides a circle of radius 5 cm into two segments.
If AB subtends an angle of 45° at the centre of the circle, find
the area of the minor segment to 3 significant figures.
o 
45 = radians
A 4
Let’s call the area of sector AOB AS
45°
B and the area of triangle AOB AT.
O 5 cm
AS = 21 r 2
= 21 × 52 × 4
= 9.8174... cm2
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Finding the area of a segment

AT = 1
2 r 2 sin
= 21 × 52 × sin 4
= 8.8388... cm2
Now:
Area of the minor segment = AS – AT
= 9.8174… – 8.8388…
= 0.979 cm2 (to 3 sig. figs.)
In general, the area of a segment of a circle of radius r is:

A = 21 r 2 (  sin )

where θ is measured in radians.

32 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2005
 Solving equations using radians

The sine rule

The cosine rule
Contents

The area of a triangle using ½ ab sin C

Degrees and radians
Arc length and sector area
Solving equations using radians
Examination-style questions

33 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Solving equations using radians

If the range for the solution set of a trigonometric equation is

given in radians then the solution must also be given in
radians. For example:
 
Solve 4 cos 2θ = 2 for    .
2 2

4 cos 2θ = 2
So: cos 2θ = 0.5
Changing the range to match the multiple angle:
–π ≤ 2θ ≤ π
If we now let x = 2θ we can solve cos x = 0.5 in the range
–π ≤ x ≤ π.

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Solving equations using radians


The principal solution of cos x = 0.5 is .
3
Remember that cos is an even function and so, in general,
cos (–θ) = cos θ.

 the second solution for x in the range –π ≤ x ≤ π is x =  .
3
 
But x = 2θ, so: if x = , 
3 3
 
θ= , 
6 6
 
This is the complete solution set in the range    .
2 2

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 Examination-style questions

The sine rule

The cosine rule
Contents

The area of a triangle using ½ ab sin C

Degrees and radians
Arc length and sector area
Solving equations using radians
Examination-style questions

36 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Examination-style question 1

In the triangle ABC, AB = 7 cm, BC = 6 cm and BAC = 50°.

a) Calculate the two possible sizes of ACB in degrees to
two decimal places.
b) Given that ACB is obtuse, calculate the area of triangle
ABC to two decimal places.

a) Using the sine rule:

sin C sin 50°
=
7 6
7 sin 50°
sin B =
6
7 sin 50°
B = sin –1
6
B = 63.34° or 116.66° (to 2 d.p.)
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Examination-style question 1

b) Area of triangle ABC = 21 ac sin B

where a = 6 cm, c = 7 cm and B = (180 – 50 – 116.66)° = 13.34°

Area of triangle ABC = 21 × 6 × 7 × sin 13.34°

= 4.85 cm2 (to 2 d.p.)

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Examination-style question 2

In the following diagram AC is an arc of a circle with centre O

and radius 10 cm and BD is an arc of a circle with centre O
and radius 6 cm.
AOD = θ radians.
A
a) Find an expression for the
B
area of the shaded region in
6 cm
terms of θ.
θ O b) Given that the shaded region
is 25.6 cm2 find the value of θ.
10 cm
D c) Calculate the perimeter of the
C
shaded region.

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Examination-style question 2

a) Area of sector AOC = 21 × 102 × θ = 50θ

1
Area of sector BOD = 2 × 62 × θ = 18θ
Area of shaded region = 50θ – 18θ = 32θ
b) 32θ = 25.6
θ = 25.6 ÷ 32
θ = 0.8 radians
c) Perimeter of the shaded region
= length of arc AC + length of arc BD + AB + CD
= (10 × 0.8) + (6 × 0.8) + 8
= 20.8 cm

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