Law of Cosines

The Law of Cosines, also called Cosine Rule or Cosine Law, states that the square of a side of a triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides minus twice their product times the cosine of their included angle.

Law of cosines

Law of Cosines formula

If a, b, and c are the lengths of the sides of a triangle, and A, B, and C are the measures of the angles opposite these sides, then

a2 = b2 + c2 - 2bc cos(A)

b2 = a2 + c2 - 2ac cos(B)

c2 = a2 + b2 - 2ab cos(C)

Notice what happens when C = 90 degrees

c2 = a2 + b2 - 2ab cos(90)

c2 = a2 + b2 since cos(90) = 0

The Cosine Rule is a generalization of the Pythagorean theorem so that the formula works for any triangle.

When should you use the Law of Cosines?

We use the Law of Cosines to solve an oblique triangle or any triangle that is not a right triangle. When solving an oblique triangle, you are trying to find the lengths of the three sides and the measures of the three angles of the oblique triangle.

Solving an SAS triangle or Side-Angle-Side triangle

If two sides and the included angle (SAS) of an oblique triangle are known, then none of the three ratios in the Law of Sines is known. Therefore you must first use the law of cosines to find the third side or the side opposite the given angle. Follow the three steps below to solve an oblique triangle.

  1. Use the Law of Cosines to find the side opposite the given angle
  2. Use either the Law of Sines or the Law of Cosines again to find another angle 
  3. Find the third angle by subtracting the measure of the given angle and the angle found in step 2 from 180 degrees.

Solving an SSS triangle or Side-Side-Side triangle

If three sides (SSS) are known, solving the triangle means finding the three angles. Follow the following three steps to solve the oblique triangle.

  1. Use the law of cosines to find the largest angle opposite the longest side
  2. Use either the Law of Sines or the Law of Cosines again to find another angle
  3. Find the third angle by subtracting the measure of the angles found in step 1 and step 2 from 180 degrees.

Examples showing how to use the Law of Cosines

Example #1:

Solve the triangle shown below with A = 120 degrees, b = 7, and c = 8.

SAS triangle

a2 = b2 + c2 - 2bc cos(A)

a2 = 72 + 82 - 2(7)(8) cos(120)

a2 = 49 + 64 - 2(56)(-0.5)

a2 = 113 + 1(56)

a= 113 + 56

a2 = 169

a = √169 = 13

Use the Law of Sines to find angle C

sin C / c =  sin A / a

sin C / 8 =  sin 120 / 13

sin C / 8 =  0.866 / 13

sin C / 8 =  0.0666

Multiply both sides by 8

sin C = 0.0666(8)

sin C = 0.536

C = arcsin(0.5328)

C = 32.19

Angle B = 180 - 120 - 32.19

Angle B = 27.81

The lengths of the sides of the triangle are 7, 8, and 13. The measures of the angles of the triangle are 27.81, 32.19, and 120 degrees.

Example #2:

Solve a triangle ABC if a =  9, b = 12, and c = 10.

There are no missing sides. We just need to find the missing angles. Since the angle opposite the longest side is angle B, use b2 = a2 + c2 - 2ac cos(B) to find cos(B). 

b2 = a2 + c2 - 2ac cos(B)

122 = 92 + 102 - 2(9)(10) cos(B)

144 = 81 + 100 - 2(90) cos(B)

144 = 181 - 180 cos(B)

144 - 181 = -180 cos(B)

-37 = -180 cos(B)

Divide both sides by -180

cos(B) = -37 / -180 = 0.205

B = arccos(0.205)

B = 78.17 degrees

Use the Law of Sines to find angle A

sin(A) / a =  sin(B) / b

sin(A) / 9 =  sin(78.17) / 12

sin(A) / 9 =  0.97876 / 12

sin(A) / 9 =  0.081563

Multiply both sides by 9

sin(A) = 0.081563(9)

sin(A) = 0.734

A = arcsin(0.734)

A = 47.22 degrees

Angle C = 180 - 78.17 - 47.22

Angle C = 54.61

Proof of the Law of Cosines

To prove the Law of Cosines, put a triangle ABC in a rectangular coordinate system as shown in the figure below. Notice that the vertex A is placed at the origin and side c lies along the positive x-axis.

Proof of the law of cosines

Use the distance formula and the points (x,y) and (c,0) to find the length of a.

a = √[(x - c)2 + (y - 0)2]

a = √[(x - c)2 + y2]

Square both sides of the equation

a2 = (x - c)2 + y2

Now, we need to find x and y and replace them in a2 = (x - c)2 + y2

Using the triangle, write expressions for sin A and cos A and then solve for x and y.

sin(A) = y / b, so y = bsin(A)

cos(A) = x / b, so x = bcos(A)

a2 = (bcos A - c)2 + (bsin A)2

a2 = b2 cos2 A - 2bc cos A + c2 + b2 sin2 A

Rearrange terms

a2 = b2 cos2 A + b2 sin2 A + c2 - 2bc cos A 

a2 = b2(cos2 A + sin2 A) + c2 - 2bc cos A 

a2 = b2(1) + c2 - 2bc cos A  since cos2 A + sin2 A = 1

a2 = b2 + c2 - 2bc cos A.

The proof can also be done with a triangle that has an obtuse angle. The result will still be the same. 



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