Oblique Triangle Solver — All Cases (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, SSA)

Solve any oblique (non-right) triangle. Input any 3 known values — sides or angles — and compute all 6 elements, area, perimeter, altitudes, medians, and angle bisectors.

About the Oblique Triangle Solver — All Cases (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, SSA)

An oblique triangle is any triangle that does not contain a right angle. Unlike right triangles, where the Pythagorean theorem and basic trigonometric ratios suffice, oblique triangles require the law of sines and the law of cosines — the two fundamental tools of general triangle solving.

This calculator handles all five standard cases for specifying a triangle: SSS (three sides), SAS (two sides and the included angle), ASA (two angles and the included side), AAS (two angles and a non-included side), and SSA (two sides and a non-included angle, the ambiguous case). For each case, it selects the appropriate solving strategy, computes all six elements (three sides and three angles), and then derives area, perimeter, semi-perimeter, circumradius, inradius, all three altitudes, all three medians, and all three angle bisector lengths.

The law of cosines generalizes the Pythagorean theorem: c² = a² + b² − 2ab·cos(C). It is used whenever at least two sides are known. The law of sines states a/sin(A) = b/sin(B) = c/sin(C) = 2R, connecting sides to their opposite angles and to the circumradius. Together, these two laws can solve any triangle given three independent measurements.

Preset examples cover each case type so you can instantly see how the solver handles different configurations. The SSA case may produce two valid triangles (the "ambiguous case"), and both are displayed when they exist.

Why Use This Oblique Triangle Solver — All Cases (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, SSA)?

Oblique Triangle Solver — All Cases (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, SSA) problems often require several dependent steps, and a small arithmetic slip can propagate through every derived value. This calculator is tailored to that workflow: you enter side a, side b, side c, and it returns side a, side b, side c, angle a in one consistent pass. It is useful for homework checks, worksheet generation, tutoring walkthroughs, and fast field/design estimates where you need reliable geometry results without rebuilding the full derivation each time.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Select the case type: SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, or SSA.
  2. Enter the known values in the input fields that appear.
  3. Or click a preset to load a classic example for any case.
  4. Choose a measurement unit for lengths.
  5. View the full solution: all 6 elements, area, perimeter, radii.
  6. Check the altitudes, medians, and angle bisectors table.
  7. For SSA, review whether there are 0, 1, or 2 solutions.

Formula

Law of cosines: c² = a² + b² − 2ab·cos(C) Law of sines: a/sin(A) = b/sin(B) = c/sin(C) Area = √[s(s−a)(s−b)(s−c)] (Heron) Altitude hₐ = 2·Area/a Median mₐ = ½√(2b²+2c²−a²) Angle bisector tₐ = (2bc/(b+c))·cos(A/2) Circumradius R = abc/(4·Area) Inradius r = Area/s

Example Calculation

Result: c ≈ 9.17, A ≈ 73.22°, B ≈ 46.78°, Area ≈ 34.64

c = √(100+64−160·cos60°) = √(84) ≈ 9.17. Angle A = arccos((64+84.07−100)/(2·8·9.17)) ≈ 73.22°. B = 180−73.22−60 = 46.78°. Area = ½·10·8·sin60° ≈ 34.64.

Tips & Best Practices

How Oblique Triangle Solver — All Cases (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, SSA) Calculations Work

This oblique triangle solver — all cases (sss, sas, asa, aas, ssa) tool links the entered values (side a, side b, side c, angle a (°)) to the target geometry relationships used in class and practice problems. Instead of solving each intermediate step manually, you can validate setup and arithmetic quickly while still tracing which measurements drive the final result.

Formula focus: the calculator formula

Practical Uses for Oblique Triangle Solver — All Cases (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, SSA)

Oblique Triangle Solver — All Cases (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, SSA) shows up in school geometry, technical drafting, construction layout checks, and early engineering design estimates. When values are changed repeatedly, the calculator helps you compare scenarios quickly and see how sensitive the shape is to each dimension.

Interpreting the Results Correctly

Start with the primary outputs (side a, side b, side c, angle a) and then use the remaining cards/tables to confirm consistency with your diagram. Keep units consistent across inputs, and round only at the end if your assignment or project specifies a fixed precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an oblique triangle?

An oblique triangle is any triangle with no 90° angle. Both acute triangles (all angles < 90°) and obtuse triangles (one angle > 90°) are oblique.

How many measurements do I need to solve a triangle?

Three independent measurements (sides or angles), with at least one being a side. Three angles alone only determine the shape (similarity class), not the size.

What is the law of cosines?

c² = a² + b² − 2ab·cos(C). It relates the three sides of a triangle to one of its angles and generalizes the Pythagorean theorem.

What is the law of sines?

a/sin(A) = b/sin(B) = c/sin(C) = 2R. It connects each side to the sine of its opposite angle and to the circumradius R.

Why does SSA sometimes give two triangles?

Because the angle is not between the two known sides, the law of sines gives sin(B) which has two possible angles (B and 180°−B). Both may produce valid triangles.

What are medians, altitudes, and angle bisectors?

A median connects a vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side. An altitude is perpendicular from a vertex to the opposite side. An angle bisector divides an angle into two equal halves.

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