What is the Law of Sines?

1 Answer
Jan 30, 2015

First of all it is useful to say the notation in a triangle:

Opposite at the side a the angle is called A,
Opposite at the side b the angle is called B,
Opposite at the side c the angle is called C.

So, the Sinus Law can be written:

a/sinA=b/sinB=c/sinC.

This Law is useful in all the cases SSA and NOT in the case SAS, in which the Law of Cosinus has to be used.

E.G.: we know a,b,A, then:

sinB=sinA*b/a and so B is known;

C=180°-A-B and so C is known;

c=sinC/sinB*b