Objectives (click/tap to expand)
Solve triangles, if possible, using the Law of Cosines
Find the area of a triangle
Use Heron's formula after deciding whether a triangle can be formed
Solve applications
Now that we know the Law of Sines, seems only fair that we study something called the Law of Cosines, right? Same objective: Solving triangles. Make sure that you're clear on which Law applies to which cases of triangle (e.g. SAS, ASA,...)
As we close out our trigonometry units, we've ventured through and past the SOHCAHTOA you learned about in Geometry class into sinusoidal curves, trig identities, and generalized formulas that apply to any/all triangles. Let's not forget though that it all began with the right triangle. That beautiful, lovely, right triangle.
Copies of practice questions will be handed out in class. Download the PDF and go to last page for answers.
The questions on the exam will only draw on material from chapters 4.7, 4.8, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, & 5.5, but obviously you need to have a solid grounding in what was covered earlier in the year in order to understand that content.
The actual exam will take place during a 100-minute period and consist of 15 multiple choice questions and 6 free response.
Suggested Make-it-yourself Practice Exam
Ch 4.7 -- Inverse Trig Functions -- p423: 25, 27, 51
Ch 4.8 -- Solving Trig Problems -- p434: 25, 29, 31
Ch 5.1 -- Fundamental Identities -- p451: 27, 33, 51
Ch 5.3 -- Sum & Difference Identities -- p468: 7, 13, 45
Ch 5.4 -- Multiple Angle Identities -- p475: 9, 23, 31
Ch 5.5 -- Law of Sines -- p484: 11, 15, 43
Ch 5.6 -- Law of Cosines -- p494: 1, 11
More Suggested Review
Ch4 Review p439: 37, 38, 87, 88, 94, 95, 97
Ch5 Review p497: 3, 4, 5, 27, 34, 51
Go to next page, Chapter 3.1.