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Right triangle side and angle calculator

Use a opposite A, b opposite B, and c opposite the right angle. Choose the known pair to recover the complete triangle and its side ratios.

Calculator

Side a
3
Side b
4
Side c
5
Angle A (opposite a)
36.8699
Angle B (opposite b)
53.1301
Angle C (opposite c)
90
Triangle area
6
Perimeter
12
Solution note
One triangle with the stated side labels.
Side ratios for each acute angle
FunctionAt angle AAt angle B
sin0.600000000.80000000
cos0.800000000.60000000
tan0.750000001.33333333
cot1.333333330.75000000
sec1.250000001.66666667
csc1.666666671.25000000

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How this calculator works

Two independent measurements, including a size, determine a right triangle. Two sides give the missing side through Pythagoras and the acute angles through atan2. A side and an acute angle give the other lengths using trig ratios. The ratio table makes the opposite-versus-adjacent exchange visible when switching from A to B. Area plus hypotenuse determines two label assignments unless the legs are equal.

Formula

c²=a²+b²; A=atan2(a,b); B=90°-A; sin A=a/c; cos A=b/c; tan A=a/b; K=ab/2.

Worked example

A right triangle with a=5 m and c=13 m has b=12 m, A≈22.619865° and B≈67.380135°. Its sine ratios are 5/13 at A and 12/13 at B.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I solve from two angles only?

No. The two acute angles fix shape but not scale. A length or area is needed as well.

Which angle belongs with a side?

Lowercase a is opposite uppercase A, and b is opposite B. The hypotenuse c is opposite C=90°.

Why use atan2 for the angles?

It uses both legs and returns the appropriate first-quadrant angle without needing to round a side ratio first.

Sources

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