How do I know which out of the Sine and Cosine rule I should use?

If you look at the formulae for the Sine and Cosine rules you'll see that the Sine rule involves two angles and two sides and the Cosine rule involves one angle and three sides.So have a look at the problem you're given and see how many angles and sides you are given and which ones you're trying to work out:-if you're given: a) two sides and an angle (you're trying to work out the second angle) or b) two angles and a side (you're trying to work out a second side) then use the Sine rule.-if you're given: a) three sides (you're trying to work out an angle) or b) two sides and an angle (yo're trying to work out the third side) then it's the Cosine rule.

JH
Answered by Julian H. Maths tutor

5545 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How do you expand (2x+9)^2?


How do tree diagrams work? Consider: A bag contains 5 red counters and 3 blue counters. James draws a counter from the bag at random and keeps it. James then draws a second counter at random. What is the probability that James takes two red counters?


There are 200 students in Year 10. 110 are boys. There are 250 students in Year 11. 140 are boys. Which year has the greater proportion of boys?


If x^2 + 2y = -14 and y = 4x + 1 , by using the quadratic formula, find the possible values for x.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning