Complete the proof of the Law of Cosines for the case when ABC is an acute

Chapter 8, Problem 57

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Complete the proof of the Law of Cosines for the case when ABC is an acute triangle.Given: ABC is acute with side lengths a, b, and c.Prove: a 2 = b 2 + c 2 - 2bc cos AProof: Draw the altitude from C to AB . Let h be the length of this altitude.It divides AB into segments of lengths x and y. By the Pythagorean Theorem,a 2 = a. ? , and b. ? = h 2 + x 2 . Substitute y = c - x into the first equationto get c. ? . Rearrange the terms to get a 2 = (h 2 + x 2) + c 2 - 2cx. Substitute theexpression for b 2 to get d. ? . From the diagram, cos A =__xb . So x = e. ? .Therefore a 2 = b 2 + c 2 - 2bc cos A by f. ? .

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