Consider ABC with the measure of angle B equal to 60 degrees, and side lengths a=4 and c=5. Which option lists an expression that is equivalent to the length of side b?
Accepted Solution
A:
For this case we can use the law of cosine to determine the length of side b. We have then: b ^ 2 = a ^ 2 + c ^ 2 - 2 * a * c * cos (B) Substituting values we have: b ^ 2 = 4 ^ 2 + 5 ^ 2 - 2 * 4 * 5 * cos (60) Clearing b: b = root (4 ^ 2 + 5 ^ 2 - 2 * 4 * 5 * cos (60)) Answer: an expression that is equivalent to the length of side b is: b = root (4 ^ 2 + 5 ^ 2 - 2 * 4 * 5 * cos (60))