Solving an Oblique Triangle, Part II
Last time we looked at solving triangles in the ASA, AAS, SSS, and SAS cases. We have one more case, which tends to be a little more complicated: the “ambiguous case”, SSA.
Methods
Solving an Oblique Triangle, Part I
Having just looked at the Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines, let’s consider how they can be applied to solving an oblique triangle – that is, finding missing parts of a triangle that is not a right triangle. The Ask Dr. Math site’s Trigonometry FAQ includes a concise summary of a procedure for …
How Do You Simplify a Fraction?
Last time we examined the basic concept of equivalent fractions – the fact that different fractions can represent the same value. We saw that there will be one way to write a fraction that is “in lowest terms” – no other fraction with the same value will involve smaller numbers, and all the others can …
Trigonometric Equations: An Overview
(A new question of the week) This week and next I will look at a recent discussion on trigonometry that dug deep into two different issues: solving equations, and proving identities. These are good summaries of how to approach these common kinds of problems. This week: solving basic trig equations.
L’Hôpital’s Rule: Harder Cases
Last time we looked at the basics of L’Hôpital’s Rule, which applies to limits of the form or , and ways to understand or prove it. Here, we’ll consider a variety of questions we’ve received about less direct application of the rule. We’ll see ways to apply it to other indeterminate forms (, , ), and what …
L’Hôpital’s Rule: What and Why
The next few posts will look at a powerful technique for finding limits in calculus, called L’Hôpital’s Rule. Here, we’ll introduce what it is, and why it works. In the next post we’ll examine some harder cases.