Law of Cosines

Law of cosines signifies the relation between the lengths of sides of a triangle with respect to the cosine of its angle. It is also called the cosine rule. If ABC is a triangle, then as per the statement of cosine law,  we have:

a² = b² + c² – 2bc cos α, where a,b, and c are the sides of triangle and α is the angle between sides b and c. 

Similarly, if β and γ are the angles between sides ca and ab, respectively, then according to the law of cosine, we have:

b² = a² + c² – 2ac cos β

c² = b² + a² – 2ab cos γ

Table of Contents:

• Definition
• Formula
• Proof
• Example

Law of Cosines Definition

In Trigonometry, the law of Cosines, also known as Cosine Rule or Cosine Formula basically relates the length of the triangle to the cosines of one of its angles. It states that, if the length of two sides and the angle between them is known for a triangle, then we can determine the length of the third side. It is given by:

c² = a² + b² – 2ab cosγ

Where a, b and c are the sides of a triangle and γ is the angle between a and b. See the figure below.

Law of cosines

Formulas

As per the cosines law formula, to find the length of sides of triangle say △ABC, we can write as;

• a² = b² + c² – 2bc cos α
• b² = a² + c² – 2ac cos β
• c² = b² + a² – 2ba cos γ

And if we want to find the angles of △ABC, then the cosine rule is applied as;

• cos α = [b² + c² – a²]/2bc
• cos β = [a² + c² – b²]/2ac
• cos γ = [b² + a² – c²]/2ab

Where a, b and c are the lengths of sides of a triangle.

Solving SSS Congruency

In SSS congruence, we know the lengths of all the three sides of a triangle, and we need to find the measure of the unknown triangle. Therefore, using the law of cosines, we can find the missing angle. 

First we need to find one angle using cosine law, say cos α = [b² + c² – a²]/2bc.

Then we will find the second angle again using the same law, cos β = [a² + c² – b²]/2ac

Now the third angle you can simply find using angle sum property of triangle. That means the sum of all the three angles of a triangle is equal to 180 degrees.

Also Check: Law of cosines calculator

Proof

Now let us learn the law of cosines proof here;

Law of Cosines Proof

In the right triangle BCD, by the definition of cosine function:

cos C = CD/a

or

CD=a cos C

Subtracting above equation from side b, we get

DA = b − acosC ……(1)

In the triangle BCD, according to Sine definition

sin C = BD/a

or

BD = a sinC ……(2)

In the triangle ADB, if we apply the Pythagorean Theorem, then

c² = BD² + DA²

Substituting for BD and DA from equations (1) and (2)

c² = (a sin C)² + (b-acosC)²

By Cross Multiplication we get:

c² = a² sin²C + b² – 2abcosC + a² cos²C

Rearranging the above equation:

c² = a² sin²C + a² cos²C + b² – 2ab cosC

Taking out a² as a common factor, we get;

c² = a²(sin²C + cos²C) + b² – 2ab cosC

Now from the above equation, you know that,

sin²θ + cos²θ = 1

∴ c² = a² + b² – 2ab cosC

Hence, the cosine law is proved.

Also read:

Problem and Solution

Let us understand the concept by solving one of the cosines law problems.

Problem: A triangle ABC has sides a=10cm, b=7cm and c=5cm. Now, find its angle ‘x’.

Solution:

Consider the below triangle as triangle ABC, where,

a=10cm

b=7cm

c=5cm

Law of Cosine Problems

By using cosines law,

a² = b² + c² – 2bc cos(x)

Or

cos x = (b² + c² – a²)/2bc

Substituting the value of the sides of the triangle i.e a,b and c, we get

cos(x) = (7² + 5² – 10²)/(2 × 7 × 5)

cos(x)=(49 + 25 -100)/70

cos(x)= -0.37

It is important to solve more problems based on cosines law formula by changing the values of sides a, b & c and cross-check law of cosines calculator given above.