374. Some proofs of the Law of Cosines.
by Virgil Nicula, May 12, 2013, 2:59 PM
PP1. Prove that in any
there is the relation
, i.e.
- Law of Cosines.
Proof 1. Denote
. Thus,
. Here appear two cases,
or
. Apply the Pythagoras' theorem
in a
-right-angled
.
Proof 2. Let
. Suppose w.l.o.g. that

. Hence
.
Proof 3. Denote the circle
, its diameters
,
, where
and
.
Suppose w.l.o.g.
. Power of
w.r.t. 
.
Remark 1.
. Indeed,
.
Remark 2. Let
and its exterior
, i.e.
. Denote
so that
separates
,
and
,
are tangent to
.
In this case
- Law of Sines. Indeed, if
is diameter of
, then
and in
-right
we have
.
Remark 3. Prove easily that
is acute

is acute


Remark 4. Let
be the symmetrical point of
w.r.t. the midpoint of the side
. Apply the Euler's relation in the quadrilateral (parallelogram) 
. From the sum of the relations
.
Remark 5.
.
PP2 (Ptolemy thorem). Let
be a convex and cyclic quadrilateral. Then there is the relation
.
Proof (trigonometric). Let the circumcircle
of
and
,
where
. In conclusion,

, what is truly because
.
Particular case. If
is diameter, i.e.
, then
. In conclusion,

, what is truly . The relation
is named "the trigonometric form of the Ptolemy's theorem".



Proof 1. Denote




in a







Proof 2. Let








Proof 3. Denote the circle

![$[AG]$](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/f/9/1/f91db94bf50495f54f28b2be75649eb977d462b0.png)
![$[DE]$](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/4/f/5/4f55b2be1d3d9963afec61b4973bfecc6141b1ff.png)


Suppose w.l.o.g.






Remark 1.




Remark 2. Let










In this case


![$[AD]$](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/0/f/3/0f3e4c424371b27673db323ced8ef0777940c0d4.png)





Remark 3. Prove easily that

![$\iff S=[ABC]=[BOC]+[COA]+[AOB]\iff$](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/d/5/3/d53e67809657a83f8dcded8f3acdbb5ddb1fb486.png)




![$\iff S=[ABC]=[BOC]+[COA]-[AOB]\iff$](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/a/2/b/a2b4abf4d00bd9958251953045c5dfa62a5722d2.png)






Remark 4. Let


![$[BC]$](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/e/a/1/ea1d44f3905940ec53e7eebd2aa5e491eb9e3732.png)





Remark 5.



PP2 (Ptolemy thorem). Let


Proof (trigonometric). Let the circumcircle



where







Particular case. If
![$[AC]$](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/0/9/3/0936990e6625d65357ca51006c08c9fe3e04ba0c.png)







This post has been edited 49 times. Last edited by Virgil Nicula, Apr 12, 2017, 6:45 PM