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EXAMPLE 7Using the Law of Cosines to Solve a Triangle

Solve the triangle: a=2, b=3,  C=60 shown in Figure 64.

Solution Because two sides a and b and the included angle C=60 (SAS) are known, we use the Law of Cosines to find the third side c. c2=a2+b22abcosC=22+32223cos60=13(1212)=7c=7

Side c is of length 7. To find either the angle A or B, use the Law of Cosines. For A, a2=b2+c22bccosA2bccosA=b2+c2a2cosA=b2+c2a22bc=9+74237=1267=277A40.9

Then to find the third angle, use the fact that the sum of the angles of a triangle, when measured in degrees, equals 180. That is, 40.9+B+60=180B=79.1