[Math] Cosine Rule Problem MathsWatch

trigonometry

Question

Did I do it completely wrong or is it just not giving me any marks?
I didn't use a calculator in case anyone was wondering.

Best Answer

I would have written it as follows: $$\begin{align}c^2&=8^2+5^2-(2\times5\times8\times0.5)\\&=64+25-40\\&=89-40\\&=49=7^2\\\implies c&=\sqrt{7^2}=7\end{align}$$

Perhaps the computer wanted to see "$c=7$" as the final line.

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