Law of Cosines: Discovery
Interact with the applet below for a few minutes.
Then, answer the questions that follow.
(Be sure the black slider has been slid all the way to the right before answering these questions.)
1)
Write an equation that expresses the relationship among A, x, and b. Then, if necessary, rewrite this equation so that x is written in terms of b and A.
2)
Write an equation that expresses the relationship among b, x, and h.
3)
Without introducing a new variable, write an equation that expresses the relationship among the sides of Triangle BDC.
4)
Rewrite the equation you wrote in response to question (3) so that each side of the equation is written in simplest form.
5)
Now use any one (or more) equations you've written in response to the questions above so that the equation you wrote for (4) contains no power of x and no power of h.