AIEEE 2002

JEE Main 2002 Mathematics question on Trigonometry

Which of the following pieces of data does not uniquely determine an acute angled △ABC\triangle ABC (RR being the radius of the circumcircle)?
  1. A.
    aa, sin⁡A\sin A, sin⁡B\sin B
  2. B.
    bb, aa, bb, cc
  3. C.
    aa, sin⁡B\sin B, RR
  4. D.
    aa, sin⁡A\sin A, RR
Show answer and solution

Correct option: D

Solution

From the sine rule, a/sin A = 2R. If a and sin A are both given, then 2R is already determined — meaning R provides no new information. So the set {a, sin A, R} gives only a/sin A = 2R (one equation), which fixes the shape's sine ratios but not a unique triangle; infinitely many similar triangles (scaled differently, or with different angle combinations satisfying the same ratio) remain possible since knowing a and sin A already forces 2R, and no additional independent constraint on B or C is introduced. In contrast, option 3 gives sin B from which B is known, then R gives 2R = b/sin B fixing b, and a is also known — enough to uniquely construct the triangle. Thus option 4 is redundant and does not uniquely determine the triangle.

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