Name: solving oblique triangles with sines
Uploaded: 2025-11-26T05:44:32.000Z
Duration: 1 min 29 s
Channel: JoVE

两个观测站之间相隔已知的水平距离，分别以已知的仰角观测一颗卫星。已知从第一站到卫星的距离。目标是通过求解由两个地面站和卫星构成的三角形，来确定卫星到第二个地面站的距离。当已知一边及其两个对角，或已知两边及其中一边的对角时，可应用正弦定理。根据正弦定理，三角形中任意一边的长度与其对角的正弦值之比为一个恒定常数。本例中，已知一条边c和两个角C与B。这符合正弦定理的条件，可用来计算边b。再举一个例子。可以利用正弦定理来求解位于河流两岸的两面旗帜之间的距离。此处，边 BC 为 100 米，对角 A 为 30 度。另一个已知角为 B，70 度，其对边为未知边 AC。利用正弦定理，已知边BC和角A，可求得边AC和角B。该结果是沿边 AC 上两个标记之间的斜距。

正弦定理

The Law of Sines

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Education

教育

JoVE Core

Math Fundamentals

数学基础

Unit

单位

Trigonometry

三角学

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

关键术语与概念

solving oblique triangles with sines

Solving oblique triangles uses the Law of Sines. An oblique triangle is a triangle with no right angle. These triangles need a different trigonometric method because the Pythagorean theorem works only for right triangles.

The Law of Sines links each side of a triangle to the sine of its opposite angle. In triangle ABC, side a is opposite angle A, side b is opposite angle B, and side c is opposite angle C. The ratios a/sin A, b/sin B, and c/sin C are constant.

This relationship helps find unknown sides or unknown angles when enough information is known. It is especially useful when two angles and any one side are given. It also works when two sides and the angle opposite one of them are known.

The Law of Sines is useful in navigation, surveying, and astronomy. In these fields, direct measurement of every part of a triangle may not be possible. The law makes it easier to solve non-right triangles and find missing measurements.

Solving Oblique Triangles with Sines

radian and degree measure

Degrees to Radians in Circle Measure

Degrees and radians are the two main units used to measure angles. They both describe rotation around a fixed point. A full turn equals 360 degrees or 2π radians, depending on the unit used. Degrees divide a circle into 360 equal parts. This makes them easy to use in everyday math. They are common in navigation, design, and basic geometry. Radians come from the geometry of a circle. One radian is the angle made when the arc length matches the radius of the circle. Since a circle’s...

trigonometric functions of real numbers

Unit Circle Trig: Signs and Symmetry

The unit circle is the basis for trigonometric functions on real numbers. It is a circle with radius one centered at the origin of the coordinate plane. On this circle, arc length means the distance measured along the circumference between two points. Each real number t is shown as an arc length measured counterclockwise from the positive x-axis. A point on the unit circle has coordinates (x, y). These coordinates define cosine and sine. The x-coordinate equals cos t, and the y-coordinate...

graphs of trigonometric functions

Trigonometric Wave Graphs and Asymptotes

Trigonometric functions create repeating waves and curved graphs with clear symmetry. Their shapes come from the unit circle, where a point moves counterclockwise and its vertical and horizontal positions form the sine and cosine values. Sine and cosine graphs are smooth waves with the same period, or repeat length. Their ranges stay bounded between -1 and 1. Sine, cosine, and the other trig functions all show regular patterns, but each one has its own graph shape. Tangent is the ratio of...

trigonometry of right triangles

Trig Ratios for Right Triangle Sides

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the law of sines

Solving oblique triangles uses the Law of Sines. An oblique triangle is a triangle with no right angle. These triangles need a different trigonometric method because the Pythagorean theorem works only for right triangles. The Law of Sines links each side of a triangle to the sine of its opposite angle. In triangle ABC, side a is opposite angle A, side b is opposite angle B, and side c is opposite angle C. The ratios a/sin A, b/sin B, and c/sin C are constant. This relationship helps find...

the law of cosines

Using Cosines to Find Triangle Sides

The Law of Cosines helps find unknown sides and angles in any triangle. It is a key trig formula for non-right triangles, where the Pythagorean Theorem does not give a direct answer. The law links side lengths to the cosine of an angle, so students can solve triangles with missing measurements. For a triangle with sides a, b, and c and opposite angles A, B, and C, the formula is written as a squared equals b squared plus c squared minus 2bc cosine A. Similar equations can be used for the other...

trigonometric identities i

Unit Circle Trig Identities and Sum Formulas

Trigonometric identities link trigonometric functions and stay true for every angle in their domains. A key example is the Pythagorean identity, which comes directly from the geometry of the unit circle. For an angle θ, a point on the unit circle has coordinates (cos θ, sin θ). Because the radius is 1, the Pythagorean Theorem gives the basic identity. That same identity can be rearranged to create another useful form. If it is divided by cos²θ, assuming cos θ is not 0, it leads to a second...

trigonometric identities ii

Double-Angle and Half-Angle Formulas

Double-angle and half-angle trigonometric formulas connect angles that are multiplied or divided by two. They come from the sum and difference formulas, so they build on earlier trigonometry skills. These identities help simplify expressions, solve equations, and evaluate integrals. The double-angle formulas come from substituting equal angles into the sum formulas. For sine and cosine, they link the value at 2θ to the value at θ. The tangent double-angle identity follows the same idea. These...

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Cofunction Identities and Complementary Angles

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Inverse Trig Functions and Angle Finding

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key terms and concepts

Learn how the Law of Sines helps solve oblique triangles by linking sides and angles. Useful for finding missing measurements in non-right triangles.

Solving Oblique Triangles with Sines | JoVE K12

The JoVE Math Fundamentals collection is designed to build a deep and comprehensive understanding of essential mathematics. Covering the foundations of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and analytic reasoning, this course establishes a strong base for future studies. The collection connects core mathematical concepts with real-world practice, equipping learners to solve complex problems, master problem-solving skills, and apply abstract ideas.

math fundamentals

Solving Oblique Triangles with Sines

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