Solution 4.2:8
From Förberedande kurs i matematik 1
m  (Lösning 4.2:8 moved to Solution 4.2:8: Robot: moved page)  | 
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| - | + | We start by drawing three auxiliary triangles, and calling the three vertical sides   | |
| - | <  | + | <math>x,\ y</math>  | 
| - | + | and  | |
| - | + | <math>z</math>, as shown in the figure.  | |
| - | <  | + | |
| - | + | ||
[[Image:4_2_8.gif|center]]  | [[Image:4_2_8.gif|center]]  | ||
| + | |||
| + | Using the definition of cosine, we can work out   | ||
| + | <math>x\text{ }</math>  | ||
| + | and   | ||
| + | <math>y</math>  | ||
| + | from   | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <math>x=a\cos \alpha </math>  | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <math>y=b\cos \beta </math>  | ||
| + | |||
| + | and, for the same reason, we know that   | ||
| + | <math>z\text{ }</math>  | ||
| + | satisfies the relation  | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <math>z=l\cos \gamma </math>  | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | In addition, we know that the lengths  | ||
| + | <math>x,\ y</math>  | ||
| + | and  | ||
| + | <math>z</math>  | ||
| + | satisfy the equality  | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <math>z=x-y</math>  | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | If we substitute in the expressions for   | ||
| + | <math>x,\ y</math>  | ||
| + | and  | ||
| + | <math>z</math>, we obtain the trigonometric equation  | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <math>l\cos \gamma =a\cos \alpha -b\cos \beta </math>  | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | where  | ||
| + | <math>\gamma </math>  | ||
| + | is the only unknown.  | ||
Revision as of 09:40, 29 September 2008
We start by drawing three auxiliary triangles, and calling the three vertical sides \displaystyle x,\ y and \displaystyle z, as shown in the figure.
Using the definition of cosine, we can work out \displaystyle x\text{ } and \displaystyle y from
\displaystyle x=a\cos \alpha 
\displaystyle y=b\cos \beta 
and, for the same reason, we know that \displaystyle z\text{ } satisfies the relation
\displaystyle z=l\cos \gamma 
In addition, we know that the lengths
\displaystyle x,\ y
and
\displaystyle z
satisfy the equality
\displaystyle z=x-y
If we substitute in the expressions for 
\displaystyle x,\ y
and
\displaystyle z, we obtain the trigonometric equation
\displaystyle l\cos \gamma =a\cos \alpha -b\cos \beta 
where
\displaystyle \gamma 
is the only unknown.

