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Mathematics 21 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Solve the triangle if b=16 and B = 55 degrees. (Solving for the two other sides)

OpenStudy (mathmale):

Would appreciate your supplying a sketch of this triangle. Anyway, seeing that one angle (B) and the length of the side opposite B (b) are given, I'd use this form of the Law of Cosines: b^2 = a^2 + c^2 - 2*a*c*cos B. While this is just one equation in 2 unknowns, it will give you the relationship between a and c. You could then choose an arbitrary positive value for a and calculate the corresponding value for c; doing so would enable you to calculate the remaining two angles. Note that this "solution" would not be unique because you'd arbitrarily chosen the value of a.

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