Stage 27 · Plane Vectors

27.5.3 Proving the Law of Cosines with Vectors

27.5 Putting Vectors to Work: Geometry and Physics

Point 3 of 7

27.5.3 Proving the Law of Cosines with Vectors

Core idea

Write the third side as the difference of the other two, square it by dotting it with itself, and c²=a²+b²−2ab cosC falls right out.

Module goal. Use vectors as a toolkit to prove geometric theorems, compute lengths and angles, handle forces and velocities, and lay the groundwork for vectors in space.
eastmath.com · 27.5 Putting Vectors to Work: Geometry and Physics · 27.5.3 Proving the Law of Cosines with Vectors