A triangle has vertices A(2,3,7), B(0,-3,4) and C(5,2,-4)
A) determine the largest angle in the traingle
b) determine the area of of the triangle
pls tell me how to solve the problem
4 answers
The largest angle is opposite the largest side.
a opposite angle A etc
a^2 = 5^2 + 5^2 + 8^2 = 114
a = 10.7
b^2 = 3^2 + 1^2 +11^2 = 131
b = 11.4
c^2 = 2^2 + 6^2 + 3^2 = 49
c = 7
so side b is biggest
a^2 = 5^2 + 5^2 + 8^2 = 114
a = 10.7
b^2 = 3^2 + 1^2 +11^2 = 131
b = 11.4
c^2 = 2^2 + 6^2 + 3^2 = 49
c = 7
so side b is biggest
let AB represent vector AB, and AC as vector AC
AB = (-2,-6,-3), |AB| = 7
AC = )3,-1,-11) |AC| = √131
AB•AC = |AB||AC|cos Ø
cosØ = 33/(7√131)
Ø = 65.676
area = (1/2)(AB)(AC)sinØ
= 36.5
AB = (-2,-6,-3), |AB| = 7
AC = )3,-1,-11) |AC| = √131
AB•AC = |AB||AC|cos Ø
cosØ = 33/(7√131)
Ø = 65.676
area = (1/2)(AB)(AC)sinØ
= 36.5
Now let's see if one of those angles is 90 degrees because that would make the area easy.
dot product is magnitudes *cos angle
AB = -2 i -6 j -3 k
AC = +3 i -1 j -11k
AB dot AC = -6+6 +33 = +33
we already know |AB|=c = 7, |AC|=b = 11.4
so
7*11.4* cos A = 33
cos A = .4135
A = 65.6 degrees
Now find angle B
BA = -AB so
BA = 2 i + 6 j + 3 k
BC = 5 i + 5 j - 8 k
BA dot BC = 10 + 30 - 24 = 16
7*10.7* cos B = 16
cos B = .2136
B = 77.7 degrees
Oh well not a right triangle
We could find angle C by subtraction from 180 but calculate it as a check.
CA = - AC
CA = -3 i + 1 j +11 k
CB = -5 i - 5 j + 8 k
10.7*11.4 cos C = 15-5+88 =98
cos C = .8034
C = 36.5 degrees
check
36.5 + 77.7 + 65.6 = 179.8 which is close enough to 180
Now you have three sides and the opposite angles. I will leave it to you to find the area.
dot product is magnitudes *cos angle
AB = -2 i -6 j -3 k
AC = +3 i -1 j -11k
AB dot AC = -6+6 +33 = +33
we already know |AB|=c = 7, |AC|=b = 11.4
so
7*11.4* cos A = 33
cos A = .4135
A = 65.6 degrees
Now find angle B
BA = -AB so
BA = 2 i + 6 j + 3 k
BC = 5 i + 5 j - 8 k
BA dot BC = 10 + 30 - 24 = 16
7*10.7* cos B = 16
cos B = .2136
B = 77.7 degrees
Oh well not a right triangle
We could find angle C by subtraction from 180 but calculate it as a check.
CA = - AC
CA = -3 i + 1 j +11 k
CB = -5 i - 5 j + 8 k
10.7*11.4 cos C = 15-5+88 =98
cos C = .8034
C = 36.5 degrees
check
36.5 + 77.7 + 65.6 = 179.8 which is close enough to 180
Now you have three sides and the opposite angles. I will leave it to you to find the area.