Spherical Trigonometry

• Sin(90 ○ - A) = cos A
• cos(90 ○ - A) = sin A
• tan(90 ○ - A) = cot A
• cot(90 ○ - A) = tan A
• sec(90 ○ - A) = cosec A
• cosec(90 ○ - A) = sec A
• Sin(90 ○ - A) = cos A sin(A-90) = -cos A
• cos(90 ○ - A) = sin A cos (A-90) = sin A
• tan(90 ○ - A) = cot A tan(A-90) = -cot A
• cot(90 ○ - A) = tan A cot(A-90) = -tan A
• sec(90 ○ - A) = cosec A sec (A-90) = cosec A
• cosec(90 ○ - A) = sec A cosec (A-90) = -sec A
 Cosine & sine formulae
Cosine formula
In any spherical triangle ABC
cos a = cos b cos c + sin b sin c cosA
cos b = cos a cos c + sin a sin c cosB
cos c = cos a cos b + sin a sin b cosC
Sine rule
sinA = sinB = sinC
sina sinb sinc
 Solution to six cases of spherical
trigonometry
1)If all 3 sides are given(a,b&c are given)
Use Hav A = cosec b cosec c[Hav a – Hav(b῀c)]

Hav B = cosec a cosec c[Hav b – Hav(a῀c)]

Hav C = cosec a cosec b[Hav c – Hav(a῀b)]

OR

Cosine formula can be used.

 Solution to six cases of spherical
trigonometry
.
Soln cosa = cosb cosc + sinb sinc cosA
cos 49o8’ =cos 58o23’ cos 71o20’+ sin 58o23’ sin 71o20’ cosA
0.65430=0.52423 x 0.32006 + 0.85157 x 0.94740 cosA
cosA=(0.65430-0.52423 x 0.32006) / (0.85157 x 0.94740)
cosA = 0.60303
A = cos-1(0.60303)
A = 52o54.7’
 In a spherical triangle ABC , given
AB = 50o10’, AC = 64o17’ & BC = 27o37’
find C A
Soln

Hav C = cosec b cosec a[Hav c – Hav(b῀a)]

Hav C =cosecAC cosecBC[HavAB – Hav(AC῀BBC) C
= cosec 64o17’ cosec27o37 [Hav50o10’ – Hav(64o17’ ῀27o37’)]
=1.10994 x 2.15725 [ 0.17972 – 0.09894]
=0.19342
C = cos-1[1 – 2(HavC)]
= cos-1[1 – 2(0.19342)]
= 52o10.9’
 Solution to six cases of spherical
trigonometry
2)If two sides and an included angle are given
(b, c & A are given) Use
Hav a = sinb sinc Hav A + Hav(b῀c)
When we get a Using a , b & c we can find out B&C as in case
1 OR

Similarly if a,c & B are given

Cosine use
formula can be used.
Hav b = sina sinc Hav B + Hav(a῀c)
Similarly if a,b & C are given use
Hav c = sina sinb Hav C + Hav(a῀b)
OR

Cosine formula can be used.

 In a spherical triangle WXY , given
W = 88o24.5’, x = 98o10’ & y = 100o09’
find w and X
Soln Hav w = sin x sin y Hav W + Hav [y-x]
Hav w = sin 98o10’ sin 100o09’ Hav 88o24.5’ + Hav [100o09’ - 98o10’ ]
= 0.98986 x 0.98435 x 0.48611 + 0.00030
= 0.47395
w = cos-1[1-2Havw]
= cos-1[1-2(0.47395)]
= 87o0.8’
Hav X = cosec w cosec y [ Hav x – Hav (y – w) ]
Hav X = cosec 87o0.8’ cosec 100o09 [ Hav 98o10’ – Hav (100o09 – 87o0.8’ ) ]
= 1.00136 x 1.01590 [ 0.57103 – 0.01308]
= 0.56759
X = cos-1(1-2HavX)
= cos-1(1-2(0.56759))
= 97o46.1’
Soln:
Cosp = cosq cosr + sinq sinr cosP
 Solution to six cases of spherical
trigonometry
3)If all 3 angles are given(A,B & C are given)
find all 3 sides (a’,b’ & c’) of polar triangle
Using a’ = 180o-A , b’ = 180o-B , c’ = 180o-C
Using a’ ,b’ & c’ find A’ ,B’ & C’ as in case 1
Convert A’ ,B’ & C’ into a, b & c
Using a = 180o- A’ , b = 180o-B’ , c = 180o-C’
 In a spherical ∆ ABC , angle A=88o36’
,B= 121o36’, AND C=69o35’calculate
Soln ∆ ABC is primitive ∆
side a.
→ ∆ A’B’C’ is polar ∆
a’= 180o-A= 180o-88o36’ = 91o24’
b’= 180o-B= 180o-121o36’ = 58o24’
c’= 180o-C= 180o-69o35’ = 110o25’
Now Hav A’=cosecb’ cosecc’[Hava’- Hav(b’-c’)]
=cosec 58o24’ cosec 110o25’[Hav 91o24’ -Hav(58o24’- 110o25’)]
= 1.17409 x 1.06703[0.51222-0.19228]
=0.40082
A’ = cos-1[1-2HavA’]
= cos-1[1-2(0.40082)]
=78o33.5’
Side a = 180o- A’ = 180o- 78o33.5’
a = 101o26.5’
Find a’ , b’ & c’.
Find B’ using cosine or Haversine formula
convert B’ into b.
.

• Answer b = 62o37’
 Solution to six cases of spherical
trigonometry
4)If 2 angles and an included side are given
(B , C & a are given)
find (b’, c’ & A’) of polar triangle
Using b’ = 180o-B , c’ = 180o-C & A’ = 180o-a
Using b’, c’ & A’ find a’ as in case 2
Using a’ ,b’ & c’ find B’ & C’ as in case 1
Convert a’ ,B’ & C’ into A, b & c
Using A = 180o- a’ , b = 180o-B’ , c = 180o-C’
 In a spherical ∆ PQR , angle P & Q are
83o12’ and 102o30’, side
r=50 o,calculate angle R
Soln ∆ PQR is primitive ∆
→ ∆ P’Q’R’ is polar ∆
→ p’ = 180o – P = 180o – 83o12’ = 96o48’ ,
q’ = 180o – Q = 180o – 102o30’ = 77o30’
and R’ = 180o – r = 180o – 50o = 130o
Now Hav r’ = sin p’ sin q’ Hav R’ + Hav(p’-q’)
= sin 96o48’ sin 77o30’ Hav 130o + Hav(96o48’- 77o30’)
= 0.99297 x 0.97630 x 0.82139 + 0.02810
=0.82439
r’ = cos-1[ 1-2Hav r’ ]
= cos-1[ 1-2(0.82439) ] = 130o27’
Now R = 180o- r’ = 180o- 130o27’
R = 49o33’
Using polar triangle find d’, e’ & F’.
Find f’ using cosine formula
cosf’ = cosd’ cose’ + sind’ sine’ cosF’
Convert f’ into F

Answer F = 49o27.3’
 Napier’s rule
For right angled spherical triangle XZP P
z
x
X p Z
Draw a circle and divide it into five part and
name them as below p x
Sin mid part = tan adjacent part1 . tan adjacent part2
90-X 90-P
Sin mid part = cos opposite part1 . cos opposite part2
90-z
 Napier’s rule
X
For quadrental spherical triangle XZP
p z

x=90
Z P

Draw a circle and divide it into five part and

name them as below Z P
Sin mid part = tan adjacent part1 . tan adjacent part2
90-p 90-z
Sin mid part = cos opposite part1 . cos opposite part2
X-90
In a spherical ∆ LMN, angle L=117o20’
sides m= 90o,and n=83o54’calculate
side l.
sin(mid part)=cos(opp. Part) x cos(opp. Part) M

sin(90-l)=cos(L) x cos(90-n) n l
cos l = cos117o20’ x cos[90-83o54’]
= -0.45917 x 0.99434 L m=90 N

l = cos-1(-0.45657)
= 117o10’
N L̽

90-l 90-n̽

M-90
 In a spherical ∆ ABC , angle
B=90o,A=43o30’, side a=41o45’,calculate
sides b and c
Special case

a c
a
90o 90o 90-C 90-A
A B A’
90-b

sin(mid part)=tan(adj. Part) x tan(adj. Part)

sin c = tan a x tan (90o-A)
c = sin-1(0.89253 x 1.05378)
c = 70o8.4’ or c = 180o - 70o8.4’ = 109o51.6’
 In a spherical ∆ ABC , angle
B=90o,A=43o30’, side a=41o45’,calculate
sides b and c
Special case

a c
a
90o 90o 90-C 90-A
A B A’
90-b

sin(mid part)=cos(opp. Part) x cos(opp. Part)

sin a = cos(90-A) x cos(90-b) → sin 41o45’ = cos(90-43o30’) x cos(90-b)
0.66588=0.68835 x cos(90-b) → cos(90-b)=0.96736→ 90-b=cos-10.96736,
b=75o19.3’ or b = 180o – 75o19.3’ = 104o40.7’
5)If 2 sides & 1 excluded angle are given OR
6) 2 angles & 1 excluded side are given.
Draw a perpendicular from an unknown angle to
a unknown side
Use Napier’s rules to solve the two triangles.
Four consecutive parts formula
A Outer Angle

Inner Side
c

a
C Arrows indicate
B Outer Side 4 consecutive parts

Inner Angle

Cot(outer side) Sin(inner side)

= Cot(outer angle) Sin(inner angle) + Cos(inner side) Cos(inner angle)
# In sperical ∆ PQR , P = 53o05’ , PQ = 70o20’ and
PR = 110o10’ , calculate angle Q & R. Inner angle
Soln. P
inner side
70o20’ 53o05’ 110o10’

outer angle
To find Q Q R

Answer Q = 124o25.6’

R = 55o50.3’
# In sperical ∆ ABC , c = 100o09’ , A = 88o24.5, and B
= 97o46’ . Find a. A 88o24.5
100o09’ c
b

97o46’ B a=? C

Answer a = 87o0.8’
Some cases of 2 sides and an excluded angle OR
2 angles and an excluded side can be solve by sine
formula sina = sinb = sinc
sinA sinB sinC
i.e. i) If a, b and A are given, then B can be find using
sine formula . The ambiguity arise is resolve by
comparing sides and corresponding angles
Note
C or c(or any one of a,b,c) is nither given nor
required to be found out.Then sine formula can be
used
Some cases of 2 sides and an excluded angle OR
2 angles and an excluded side can be solve by sine
formula sina = sinb = sinc
sinA sinB sinC
i.e. i) If a, b and A are given, then B can be find using
sine formula . The ambiguity arise is resolve by
comparing sides and corresponding angles
OR
ii) If A, B and b are given, then a can be find using
sine formula . The ambiguity arise is resolve by
comparing sides and corresponding angles
# In a spherical ∆ PQR, Q = 88o24.5’ , q = 87o01’ and r =
100o09’ , find R
Soln By sine formula sinq = sinr
sinQ sinR
sinR = sinr sinQ = sin 100o09’ sin 88o24.5’
sinq sin 87o01’
= 0.98435 x 0.99961
0.99864
R = sin-1 0.98531
R= 80o10’ OR R = 180- 80o10’ = 99o50’
As greater side has greater angle opposite to it.
And r > q → R > Q = 88o24.5’
R = 99o50’
In a spherical ∆ PQR, Q = 88o24.5’ , q =
87o01’ and p = 98o10’ , find P.
 In a spherical triangle PQR , given
r = 20o, q = 109o18’ & p = 36o28’
find P &
Soln HavP = cosecr cosecq [ Havp – Hav( q-r) ]
Q
= cosec20o cosec109o18’ [ Hav 36o28’ – Hav(109o18’ - 20o) ]
= 2.92380 x 1.05955 [ 0.09790 – 0.49389 ]
= - 1.22674
P = cos-1( 1- 2HavP )
= cos-1[1- 2x(-1.22674) ]
= Math ERROR
Why ?
In spherical Δ, the sum of two sides is always greater
than the third.
But here r+p< q
Therefore ΔPQR is not the spherical Δ.
 In a spherical triangle PZX given P= 50o00’,
z = 70o45’ and x = 62o10’, find p and Z .
Soln Using Haversine formula
Hav p = sinx sinz HavP + Hav(z-x) x
= sin62o10’ sin 70o45’ Hav 50o00’
+ Hav(70o45’ - 62o10’, ) P z
= 0.88431 x 0.94409 x 0.17861 + 0.0056
Hav p= 0.15472
p = cos-1( 1- 2 Hav p) = 46o19.5’
Now Hav Z = cosecx cosecp[ Havz – Hav( x- p ) ]
= cosec 62o10’ cosec 46o19.5’ [Hav 70o45-Hav(62o10’- 46o19.5’ )]
= 1.13083 x 1.38261 [ 0.33515 – 0.01899 ]
= 0.49432
Z = cos-1( 1- 2 Hav Z) = 89o20.9’
s
1)Solve the right angled spherical triangle ABC in which C =90o,
c= 120o41.2’ and B=70o,12.7’
2)In spherical triangle PXY, angle X=92o5’ ,Y=90o and side p= 53o20,
calculate side y.
3)In spherical triangle DEF, angle D=27o28’ ,E=90o and side f = 62o06’ ,
calculate side d.
4)In spherical triangle ABC sides a,b and c are 60o03’ , 82o17’ and
69o06’ ,calculate angle A.
5)In spherical triangle PZX,side x= 55o14’ ,angle P= 54o01’ and
Z = 121o25’ , calculate angle X.
6)In spherical triangle ABC,angle A= 100o50’ ,angle B= 54o01’ and
C = 121o25’ , calculate side b.
7) In spherical triangle XYZ, angle X=73o01’ ,side y=47o47’ and side
x = 90o , calculate angle y.
8) In spherical triangle PZX, side p=87o10’ ,z=62o37’and
x = 100o10’ , calculate angle P.