Question: Find the length of side $c$.
a = $8$
B
c = [?]
$73^\circ$
C
b = $14$
A
Law of Cosines: $$c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab \cdot \cos(C)$$
Round your answer to the nearest hundredth.
Triangle graph, position_hint=top-center: side a=$8$ on segment BC, side b=$14$ on segment CA, angle C=$73^\circ$ at vertex C, and unknown side c on segment BA.
1. **State the problem:** We need to find the length of side $c$ in a triangle where sides $a=8$, $b=14$, and angle $C=73^\circ$ are given.
2. **Formula used:** The Law of Cosines states:
$$c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab \cdot \cos(C)$$
This formula relates the lengths of the sides of a triangle to the cosine of one of its angles.
3. **Substitute the known values:**
$$c^2 = 8^2 + 14^2 - 2 \times 8 \times 14 \times \cos(73^\circ)$$
4. **Calculate each term:**
$$8^2 = 64$$
$$14^2 = 196$$
Calculate $\cos(73^\circ)$ (using a calculator):
$$\cos(73^\circ) \approx 0.29237$$
5. **Plug in the cosine value:**
$$c^2 = 64 + 196 - 2 \times 8 \times 14 \times 0.29237$$
Calculate the product:
$$2 \times 8 \times 14 = 224$$
So:
$$c^2 = 64 + 196 - 224 \times 0.29237$$
6. **Multiply:**
$$224 \times 0.29237 \approx 65.011$$
7. **Simplify:**
$$c^2 = 64 + 196 - 65.011 = 260.989$$
8. **Find $c$ by taking the square root:**
$$c = \sqrt{260.989}$$
9. **Calculate the square root:**
$$c \approx 16.15$$
10. **Final answer:** The length of side $c$ is approximately **16.15** (rounded to the nearest hundredth).