Example of Zero Triangles Possible
Use the Law of Sines to solve for $$m \angle A$$![Ambiguous case Zero Triangles](images/ambiguous-case/zero-triangles/ambiguous-case-zero-triangles-possible-unlabelled.png)
$$ BC = 23 \\ AC = 3 \\ \angle B = 44^{\circ}$$.
$ \frac{sin( A)}{ 23 } = \frac{sin(44)}{3} \\ sin( A) = \frac{23 \cdot sin(44)}{3} \\ sin( A) = \red { 5.32571417} \\ \boxed{\text{ No Solution}} $
As you can see $$ \angle A $$ is 'impossible' because the sine of an angle cannot be equal to 5.3. (Remember the greatest value that the sine of an angle can have is 1)
Visual of Zero Triangles Possible
![Ambiguous case Zero Triangles](images/ambiguous-case/zero-triangles/ambiguous-case-zero-triangles-possible-answer-unlabelled.png)
There is no way to do it
Example 1
For $$\triangle ABC$$, $$ a = 6, b =10$$, and $$m \angle A = 42^{\circ}$$. How many Triangles can be formed?
Work
$$ \frac{sin ( B )}{b} = \frac{sin ( A )}{a} \\ \frac{sin (\red B)}{10} = \frac{sin (42^{\circ})}{6} \\ sin(\red B)= \frac{10 \cdot sin (42^{\circ})}{6} \\ sin(\red B)= 1.11522 \\ \boxed{\text{No Solution}} $$
Answer:
Zero Triangles . The maximum value of the sine function is 1.
$$ sin(B)= \cancel {\red {1.11522}} $$(from our free downloadable worksheet )
Practice Problem
Work
$$ \frac{sin ( E )}{e} = \frac{sin ( F )}{f} \\ \frac{sin (\red E)}{27} = \frac{sin (37^{\circ})}{12} \\ sin(\red E)= \frac{27 \cdot sin (37^{\circ})}{12} \\ sin(\red B)= 1.3541 \\ \boxed{\text{No Solution}} $$
Answer:
There is no possible $$\angle E $$ with the given dimensions . The maximum value of the sine function is 1.
$$ sin(B)= \cancel {\red {1.3541}} $$(from our free downloadable worksheet )