1

I wanted to solve the following problem.

In $\triangle ABC$ we have $$\sin^2 A + \sin^2 B = \sin^2 C + \sin A \sin B \sin C.$$ Compute $\sin C$.

Since it's an equation for a triangle, I assumed that $\pi = A + B + C$ would be important to consider.

I've tried solving for $\sin C$ as a quadratic, rewriting $\sin C = \sin (\pi - A - B)$, but nothing seemed to work.

How does one approach this problem? Any help would be appreciated.

The answer is

$$\frac{2\sqrt{5}}{5}$$

3 Answers3

1

using the Theorem of sines we get $$\sin^2(C)\left(\frac{a^2+b^2}{c^2}\right)=\sin^2(C)+\frac{ab}{c^2}\sin^3(C)$$ since $$\sin(C)\neq 0$$ we obtain $$\sin(C)=\frac{a^2+b^2-c^2}{ab}$$ using $$2\cos(C)=\frac{a^2+b^2-c^2}{ab}$$ we get $$\tan(C)=2$$

0

By the law of sines the triangle $ABC$ is a similar to the triangle with sides-lengths $\sin{A}$, $\sin{B}$ and $\sin{C}$.

Thus, by the law of cosines $$\sin^2C=\sin^2A+\sin^2B-2\sin{A}\sin{B}\cos{C}$$ and by the given $$\sin^2C=\sin^2A+\sin^2B-\sin{A}\sin{B}\sin{C}.$$ Id est, $$2\cos{C}=\sin{C}$$ or $$4(1-\sin^2C)=\sin^2C$$ or $$\sin{C}=\frac{2}{\sqrt5}$$ or $$C=\arcsin\frac{2}{\sqrt{5}}.$$ Done!

0

Using Prove $ \sin(A+B)\sin(A-B)=\sin^2A-\sin^2B $,

$$\sin^2A+\sin(B-C)\sin(B+C)=\sin A\sin B\sin C$$

As $\sin(B+C)=\sin(\pi-A)=\sin A$ and $\sin A>0$ cancelling it in both sides

$$\sin A+\sin(B-C)=\sin B\sin C$$

$$\sin(B+C)+\sin(B-C)=\sin B\sin C$$

$$\iff2\sin B\cos C=\sin B\sin C$$

As $\sin B>0,$ $$\dfrac{\sin C}2=\dfrac{\cos C}1=\pm\sqrt{\dfrac{\sin^2C+\cos^2C}{2^2+1^2}}=?$$

But again $\sin C>0$