A triangle has two corners with angles of (3 pi ) / 4 3π4 and ( pi )/ 6 π6. If one side of the triangle has a length of 9 9, what is the largest possible area of the triangle?

2 Answers
Jan 27, 2018

81/(2(sqrt3-1)) " " or " " 55.324812(31) or 55.324

Explanation:

First, we need to find the third angle:

A + B + C = piA+B+C=π

(3pi)/4 + pi/6 + c = pi3π4+π6+c=π

(9pi)/12 + (2pi)/12 + c = pi9π12+2π12+c=π

c = pi/12c=π12

So our three angles are pi/12π12, pi/6π6, and (3pi)/43π4.

To get the largest possible area for the triangle, we want to make 99 the smallest side, so that the other two sides can be as big as possible.

And the smallest side is always opposite of the smallest angle. The relation between side and angle is given through the law of sines:

a/sinA = b/sinB = c/sinCasinA=bsinB=csinC

If we assume that the side with length 99 is opposite the angle pi/12π12, then we get:

a/sinA = 9/sin(pi/12) = 9/((sqrt6-sqrt2)/4) = 36/(sqrt6-sqrt2)asinA=9sin(π12)=9624=3662

Now that we know this constant, we know that all of the other sides and angles must also create this same constant. So, since we have the angles for the other two sides, we can go ahead and solve for one of the other two sides, like this:

b/sin((3pi)/4) = 36/(sqrt6-sqrt2)bsin(3π4)=3662

b/(sqrt2/2) = 36/(sqrt6-sqrt2)b22=3662

bsqrt2 = 36/(sqrt6-sqrt2)b2=3662

b = 36/(sqrt2(sqrt6-sqrt2)) = 36/(2(sqrt3-1)) = 18/(sqrt3-1)b=362(62)=362(31)=1831

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, we know two sides, and the angle connecting them. Just for reference, this is what our triangle looks like (not to scale):

Given two sides and the angle between them, we can use this formula to find the area of the triangle:

A_Delta = 1/2ab sinC

A_Delta = 1/2(9)(18/(sqrt3-1))sin(pi/6)

A_Delta = 1/2(9)(18/(sqrt3-1))(1/2)

A_Delta = 162/(4(sqrt3-1))

A_Delta = 81/(2(sqrt3-1)) = 55.324

Since we made 9 the smallest side to maximize the other two lengths, this must be the largest possible area for the triangle.

Final Answer

Jan 27, 2018

Largest possible area of the triangle A_t = (1/2) b c sin A

color(red)(A_t = 55.3241)

Explanation:

Third angle = pi - ((3pi)/4) - (pi/6) = pi / 12

a / sin A = b / sin B = c / sin C

To get the largest area, length 9 should correspond to smallest angle C = pi/12

a / sin ((3pi)/4) = b / sin (pi/6) = 9 / sin (pi/12)

a = (9 * sin ((3pi)/4)) / sin (pi/12) = 24.5885

b = (9 * sin (pi/6)) / sin (pi/12) = 17.3867

Largest possible area of the triangle A_t = (1/2) b c sin A

A_t = (1/2) * 17.3867 * 9 * sin ((3pi)/4) = color(red)(55.3241)