# Math Help - law of sines

1. ## law of sines

okay i am usually pretty good with the Law of Sine
but this problem I am having trouble with.
I dont think it can b solved. can it?

problem:
Solve the triangle in which gamma=sin50degrees and a=2 and c= 1

i know it is a SAS triangle.
set up

(sin50degrees/1)=(sin(alpha)/2)
cross multiply
2(sin 50degrees)=1(sin(alpha))
(1.532088886/1)=sin(alpha)
sin^-1(1.532088886/1)=alpha

is that way off?

2. Originally Posted by lsnyder
okay i am usually pretty good with the Law of Sine
but this problem I am having trouble with.
I dont think it can b solved. can it?

problem:
Solve the triangle in which gamma=sin50degrees and a=2 and c= 1

i know it is a SAS triangle.
set up

(sin50degrees/1)=(sin(alpha)/2)
cross multiply
2(sin 50degrees)=1(sin(alpha))
(1.532088886/1)=sin(alpha)
sin^-1(1.532088886/1)=alpha

is that way off?
Let's put it in terms we call all understand first.

If you have a triangle with sides $a, b, c$ then the angle opposite each side is $A, B, C$.

Which one is $\gamma$?

Also, what are we trying to find? All the sides? All the angles? The area? The perimeter?