Question

How do you know which method to use to solve a triangle?

Answer 1

Here is a view of methods to solve oblique (non-right) triangles.

Explanation:

Solving oblique triangles involves looking at what information you're given and either applying the Law of Sines or the Law of Cosines to solve the triangle.

The law of sines is `sinA/a = sinB/b = sinC/c` in triangle ABC, while the law of cosines states that `a^2 = b^2 + c^2 - 2(bc)cosA`.

When do we use Law of Sines?

Warning: the angle-side-side case risks to be an ambiguous case: 0, 1 or 2 solutions possible

When do we use Law of Cosines?

Hopefully this helps!