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Napier's Rule

Napier's Rules describe a method for solving spherical triangle problems using five elements: two angles and three sides. These elements can be arranged in a circular diagram with the sides forming sectors. Napier's Rules state that the sine of the middle element equals the product of the tangents of the adjacent elements or the cosines of the opposite elements. The rules also provide information on determining whether a side of a spherical triangle is less than or greater than 90 degrees based on the quadrants of the other sides and angles. Special cases like quadrantal, biquadrantal, and triquadrantal spherical triangles can be solved using modifications to Napier's Rules.

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2K views2 pages

Napier's Rule

Napier's Rules describe a method for solving spherical triangle problems using five elements: two angles and three sides. These elements can be arranged in a circular diagram with the sides forming sectors. Napier's Rules state that the sine of the middle element equals the product of the tangents of the adjacent elements or the cosines of the opposite elements. The rules also provide information on determining whether a side of a spherical triangle is less than or greater than 90 degrees based on the quadrants of the other sides and angles. Special cases like quadrantal, biquadrantal, and triquadrantal spherical triangles can be solved using modifications to Napier's Rules.

Uploaded by

dash1991
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Napier's Rules - Spherical Triangles

If the right angle is omitted, the triangle has five parts: two angles and three sides, as shown in
Figure A. Since the right angle is already known, If the two sides forming the right angle, and the
complements of the other three parts are used, these elements (called "parts" in the rules) can be
arranged in five sectors of a circle in the same order in which they occur in the triangle, as shown in
Figure B. Considering any part as the middle part, the two parts nearest it in the diagram are
considered the adjacent parts, and the two farthest from it the opposite parts. Napier's Rules state:
The sine of a middle part equals the product of the tangents of the adjacent parts or the cosines of
the opposite parts.
In the use of these rules, the co-function of a complement can be given as the function of the
element. Thus, the cosine of co-A is the same as the sine of A. From these rules the nofollowing
formulas can be derived:

The nofollowing rules apply:


1. An oblique angle and the side opposite are in the same quadrant.
2. Side c (the hypotenuse) is less than 90 when a and b are in the same quadrant, and more than
90 when a and b are in different quadrants.
If the known parts are an angle and its opposite side, two solutions are possible.
A quadrantal spherical triangle is one having one side of 90.A biquadrantal spherical triangle has
two sides of 90.A triquadrantal spherical triangle has three sides of 90. A biquadrantal spherical
triangle is isosceles and has two right angles opposite the 90 sides. A triquadrantal spherical
triangle is equilateral, has three right angles, and bounds an octant (one-eighth) of the surface of the
sphere. A quadrantal spherical triangle can be solved by Napier's rules provided any two elements in
addition to the 90 side are known. The 90 side is omitted and the other parts are arranged in order
in a five-sectored circle, using the complements of the three parts farthest from the 90 side. In the
case of a quadrantal triangle, rule 1 above is used, and rule 2 restated: angle C (the angle opposite
the side of 90)is more than 90 when A and B are in the same quadrant, and less than 90 when A
and B are in different quadrants. If the rule requires an angle of more than 90 and the solution
produces an angle of less than 90, subtract the solved angle from 180.

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