A triangle has side lengths 4, 7 and 9. What is the measure of the angle across from the longest side?

92 = 42 + 72 − 2g4g7cos(A)
81 = 16 + 49 − 56cos(A)
81 = 9cos(A)
9 = cos(A)
A cannot exist!

Gabe tried to use the law of cosines to find an unknown angle measure in a triangle. His work is shown. What is Gabe’s error?

a. Gabe reversed the order of the 9 and the 4.

b. Gabe squared the numbers incorrectly.

c. Gabe should not have subtracted 56 from
16 + 49.

d. Gabe incorrectly stated that cos–1(9) is not defined.

what is the information provided?

step-by-step explanation:

the value of x is 9 ⇒ answer b

step-by-step explanation:

* we can solve this problem using cosine and sine rule

- in δ abc

∵ ab = 36 , bc = 28 , ac = 16

- lets find the measure of angle b using the cosine rule

∵ cos b = [ab² + bc² - ac²]/2(ab)(bc)

∴ cos b = [36² + 28² - 16²]/2(36)(28)

∴ cos b = 19/21

∴ m∠b = cos^-1(19/21) ≅ 25°

- lets find the measure of angle a using the sine rule

∵ sina/bc = sinb/ac = sinc/ab

∴ sina/28 = sin25°/16 ⇒ by using cross multiplication

∴ sina = 28 × sin25°/16

∴ sina = 0.7396

∴ m∠a = sin^-1(0.7396) ≅ 48°

- from the figure m∠abd = m∠dbc

∵ m∠abc = 25°

∴ m∠abd = 25°/2 = 12.5°

- in δabd

∵ m∠a = 48° , m∠abd = 12.5°

∵ the sum of the measures of the interior angles of any δ is 180°

∴ m∠adb = 180° - (48° + 12.5°) = 119.5°

∵ ab = 36

∵ ad = x

- use the sine rule to find x

∵ sin∠adb/ab = sin∠abd/x

∴ sin119.5°/36 = sin12.5°/x ⇒ by using cross multiplication

∴ x = 36 × sin12.5°/sin119.5° = 8.95 ≅ 9

* the value of x is 9