1. **State the problem:** We are given a triangle with sides $a=14$, $c=8$, and angle $B=64^\circ$. We need to find side $b$ using the Law of Cosines.
2. **Formula:** The Law of Cosines states:
$$b^2 = a^2 + c^2 - 2ac \cos B$$
This formula relates the lengths of the sides of a triangle to the cosine of one of its angles.
3. **Substitute the known values:**
$$b^2 = 14^2 + 8^2 - 2 \times 14 \times 8 \times \cos 64^\circ$$
4. **Calculate each term:**
$$14^2 = 196$$
$$8^2 = 64$$
$$2 \times 14 \times 8 = 224$$
5. **Evaluate cosine:**
$$\cos 64^\circ \approx 0.4384$$
6. **Plug in and simplify:**
$$b^2 = 196 + 64 - 224 \times 0.4384$$
$$b^2 = 260 - 98.1216$$
$$b^2 = 161.8784$$
7. **Find $b$ by taking the square root:**
$$b = \sqrt{161.8784} \approx 12.72$$
**Final answer:**
$$b \approx 12.72$$
This means the length of side $b$ is approximately 12.72 units.
Law Cosines
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