The Law of Cosines for 60° and 120°

In the spirit of Proof #3 of the Pythagorean theorem, we show that

In a triangle $ABC,\;$ with sides $a=BC,\;$ $b=AC,\;$ $c=AB,\;$ and $\gamma=\angle ACB,\;$ we have

$c^2=a^2+b^2-ab\;$ if $\gamma=60^{\circ}\;$ and
$c^2=a^2+b^2+ab\;$ if $\gamma=120^{\circ}\;$

These are clearly specific cases of the Law of Cosines. Observe, however, that in the proofs below neither the Law of Cosines nor the Pythagorean theorem are actually used.

Lemma

If the area of an isosceles triangle with the sides of length $1\;$ and the apex angle $\gamma\;$ equals $g,\;$ then the area of $\Delta ABC\;$ equals $gab.$

Indeed, by first extending side $BC\;$ we get a triangle with the area of $ga.\;$

The Law of Cosines for 60° and 120°, Lemma, part 1

Next, extending side $AC\;$ we get a triangle with the area of $gab.\;$

The Law of Cosines for 60° and 120°, Lemma, part 2

Proof of Statement for $\gamma =60^{\circ}.$

Arrange three copies of the $60\text{-degree}\;$ triangle with sides $a,b,c$ into an equilateral triangle:

The Law of Cosines for 60° and 120°, proof for 60 degrees

The figure consists of two equilateral triangles - big with side $a+b,\;$ and small with side $c,\;$ and three equal triangles. Taking $\gamma=60^{\circ},\;$ gives

$g(a+b)^2 = gc^2+3gab,$

or, $a^2+b^2-ab=c^2.$

Proof of Statement for $\gamma =120^{\circ}.$

Now, arranging the triangle into a regular hexagon:

The Law of Cosines for 60° and 120°, proof for 120 degrees

we get, as before, $6(a+b)^2=6ab+6c^2,\;$ because a regular hexagon is the union of six equilateral triangles. Simplifying we get $a^2+b^2+ab=c^2.$

Reference

  1. B. Polster, M. Ross, One-Glance(ish) Proofs of Pythagoras’ Theorem for 60-Degree and 120-Degree Triangles, Math Magazine, VOL. 89, NO. 1, FEBRUARY 2016 47-54

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