BQ#1 - Unit P

2. Law of Sines- Why is SSA ambiguous? SSA is ambiguous because we are only given one angle so we don't know how the triangle looks like since there could be two possible triangles, one, or even no possible triangle because we are only given one angle. In the example below we are only given angle A therefore we have to start the problem assuming there could be two possible triangles.
                    
 (an example of one possible triangle example)

4. Area Formulas- How is the “area of an oblique” triangle derived?  The area of an oblique triangle is derived by using the formula of one half of the product of the two adjacent sides given and the sine of their included angle. (Ex. Area=1/2absinC).  In the example below, if you plug in the values you have:
Area=1/2(16)(12)*sin(102). Make sure your calculator is in degrees mode and you get 95.5 u^2.

                                              Example of an oblique triangle:

(http://image.mathcaptain.com/cms/images/41/oblique-triangle-solved-problems.jpg)
  
How does it relate to the area formula that you are familiar with?

The area formula I am familiar with is Area= (length)(width)(height). The formula for the area of an oblique triangle relates to it because we are measuring A=1/2absinC where the height of the triangle is multiplied by (1/2) times the width (b) times the length (a).  

References:
 http://image.mathcaptain.com/cms/images/41/oblique-triangle-solved-problems.jpg