India Site

In a ∆ABC, if a = 18, b = 24, c = 30, find cos A, cos B and cos C

ACCORDING TO QUES,:

Sides of a triangle are

\[a\text{ }=\text{ }18,\text{ }b\text{ }=\text{ }24\text{ }and\text{ }c\text{ }=\text{ }30\]

Hence, using the formulas:

\[Cos\text{ }A\text{ }=\text{ }({{b}^{2}}~+\text{ }{{c}^{2}}~\text{ }{{a}^{2}})/2bc\]

\[Cos\text{ }B\text{ }=\text{ }({{a}^{2}}~+\text{ }{{c}^{2}}~\text{ }{{b}^{2}})/2ac\]

\[Cos\text{ }C\text{ }=\text{ }({{a}^{2}}~+\text{ }{{b}^{2}}~\text{ }{{c}^{2}})/2ab\]

Now, substituting the values of\[a,\text{ }b\text{ }and\text{ }c,\]in the equation:

\[Cos\text{ }A\text{ }=\text{ }({{b}^{2}}~+\text{ }{{c}^{2}}~\text{ }{{a}^{2}})/2bc\]

\[=\text{ }({{24}^{2}}~+\text{ }{{30}^{2}}~\text{ }{{18}^{2}})/2\times 24\times 30\]

Or,

\[=\text{ }1152/1440\]

\[=\text{ }4/5\]

Now,

\[Cos\text{ }B\text{ }=\text{ }({{a}^{2}}~+\text{ }{{c}^{2}}~\text{ }{{b}^{2}})/2ac\]

\[=\text{ }({{18}^{2}}~+\text{ }{{30}^{2}}~\text{ }{{24}^{2}})/2\times 18\times 30\]

Or,

\[=\text{ }648/1080\]

\[=\text{ }3/5\]

Now,

\[Cos\text{ }C\text{ }=\text{ }({{a}^{2}}~+\text{ }{{b}^{2}}~\text{ }{{c}^{2}})/2ab\]

\[=\text{ }({{18}^{2}}~+\text{ }{{24}^{2}}~\text{ }{{30}^{2}})/2\times 18\times 24\]

Or,

\[=\text{ }0/864\]

\[=\text{ }0\]

\[\therefore cos\text{ }A\text{ }=\text{ }4/5,\text{ }cos\text{ }B\text{ }=\text{ }3/5,\text{ }cos\text{ }C\text{ }=\text{ }0\]