Solution 4.2:8
From Förberedande kurs i matematik 1
(Difference between revisions)
			  			                                                      
		          
			m   | 
			|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| - | We start by drawing three auxiliary triangles, and calling the three vertical sides   | + | We start by drawing three auxiliary triangles, and calling the three vertical sides ''x'', ''y'' and ''z'', as shown in the figure.  | 
| - | + | ||
| - | and  | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
[[Image:4_2_8.gif|center]]  | [[Image:4_2_8.gif|center]]  | ||
| - | Using the definition of cosine, we can work out   | + | Using the definition of cosine, we can work out ''x'' and ''y'' from   | 
| - | + | ||
| - | and   | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | from   | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| + | {{Displayed math||<math>\begin{align}  | ||
| + | x &= a\cos \alpha\,,\\[3pt]  | ||
| + | y &= b\cos \beta\,,  | ||
| + | \end{align}</math>}}  | ||
| - | + | and, for the same reason, we know that ''z'' satisfies the relation  | |
| + | {{Displayed math||<math>z=\ell\cos \gamma\,\textrm{.}</math>}}  | ||
| - | + | In addition, we know that the lengths ''x'', ''y'' and ''z'' satisfy the equality  | |
| - | + | ||
| - | and  | + | |
| - | + | ||
| + | {{Displayed math||<math>z=x-y\,\textrm{.}</math>}}  | ||
| - | + | If we substitute in the expressions for ''x'', ''y'' and ''z'', we obtain the trigonometric equation  | |
| + | {{Displayed math||<math>\ell\cos \gamma = a\cos \alpha -b\cos \beta\,\textrm{,}</math>}}  | ||
| - | where  | + | where <math>\gamma </math> is the only unknown.  | 
| - | <math>\gamma </math>  | + | |
| - | is the only unknown.  | + | |
Current revision
We start by drawing three auxiliary triangles, and calling the three vertical sides x, y and z, as shown in the figure.
Using the definition of cosine, we can work out x and y from
| \displaystyle \begin{align}
 x &= a\cos \alpha\,,\\[3pt] y &= b\cos \beta\,, \end{align}  | 
and, for the same reason, we know that z satisfies the relation
| \displaystyle z=\ell\cos \gamma\,\textrm{.} | 
In addition, we know that the lengths x, y and z satisfy the equality
| \displaystyle z=x-y\,\textrm{.} | 
If we substitute in the expressions for x, y and z, we obtain the trigonometric equation
| \displaystyle \ell\cos \gamma = a\cos \alpha -b\cos \beta\,\textrm{,} | 
where \displaystyle \gamma is the only unknown.

