What is the Obtuse Triangle Calculator?
An obtuse triangle is the laid-back one: a single angle wider than 90 degrees, with the other two squeezed into whatever remains. The long side opposite that wide angle dominates the shape — stretch it and the triangle flattens toward a straight line. Carpenters meet obtuse triangles in hip roofs and stair stringers; landscapers meet them in every irregular yard that refuses to be rectangular. The area formula never changes: half the base times the height, though the height may fall outside the triangle, dropped from the obtuse vertex to an extended base.
The Law of Cosines is the obtuse triangle's best friend, since the Pythagorean theorem only serves right angles. Given two sides and their included obtuse angle, c² = a² + b² − 2ab·cos(C) hands you the third side — and because cosine of an obtuse angle is negative, the correction term adds rather than subtracts, which is why the long side gets so long. This calculator evaluates the area and side arithmetic: enter the base-height or side-angle contributions and read the computed area or side length — enough to price sod for a triangular lawn or check a rafter cut.
With the pre-filled defaults — Variable A 10, Variable B 5 — the Obtuse Triangle Calculator returns Result 50.0000. Change any input and those results update instantly, so you can see exactly how each number you enter moves the answer.
How to Use the Obtuse Triangle Calculator
- 1Identify the obtuse angle (the one over 90°) and the sides around it.
- 2For area: type half the base in the Variable A box — for a 20-ft base, that is 10.
- 3Type the height in the Variable B box — for example, 8 for 8 feet.
- 4Read the Result box for the area: 80 square feet.
- 5For a missing side, compute a² + b² − 2ab·cos(C) on paper and take the square root of the result.
- 6Remember cos of an obtuse angle is negative, so the correction term increases the side.
Formula
This is the core equation the Obtuse Triangle Calculator uses to calculate results. Enter values in the calculator above to see it in action.
Common Examples
| Scenario | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Example calculation | Variable A = 10, Variable B = 5 | Result = 50.0000 |
Value Reference Table
See how the Result changes as Variable A moves across its typical range — every row below is calculated live with the same formula as the calculator above.
| Variable A | Result |
|---|---|
| 3 | 15.0000 |
| 5 | 25.0000 |
| 8 | 40.0000 |
| 10 | 50.0000 |
| 20 | 100.0000 |
| 30 | 150.0000 |
| 40 | 200.0000 |
Practice Problems
Check your understanding of the Obtuse Triangle Calculator with these practice problems. Click a problem to reveal its correct calculated answer.
Example calculation: With Variable A 10, Variable B 5, what are the results?
Show AnswerHide Answer
Calculation Progression Roadmap
How the Obtuse Triangle Calculator turns your inputs into a result, step by step — from the values you type to the answer you read.
Gather your inputs
Type in your Variable A and Variable B. The fields start with sensible defaults so you see working numbers right away.
Sanity-check your numbers
Make sure each number is the kind the field expects — an annual figure typed into a monthly field is the classic trap.
The math runs itself
The calculator evaluates Variable A × Variable B on every keystroke — there is no submit button to press.
Read your results
Your Result appears instantly. With the pre-filled defaults, that is Result 50.0000. Change any input to see the effect immediately.
Test a what-if
Nudge one input up or down. Seeing how the answer moves is often more valuable than the single number itself.
Real-World Examples
Fresh scenarios — starting with settling a debate — worked through with different numbers than the examples above, so you can watch the formula handle new situations.
Settling a debate
With Variable A 20, Variable B 5, the calculator returns Result 100.0000.
Quick mental-math verify
Plug in Variable A 5, Variable B 5 and you get Result 25.0000.
Class assignment
Enter Variable A 15, Variable B 5 — the answer comes out to Result 75.0000.
Quick Facts
- Formula:
a * b - Category: math
- Uses: math, obtuse triangle, math
- Price: Free — no account needed
Frequently Asked Questions
A triangle with one angle greater than 90°. The other two angles are acute, and the side opposite the obtuse angle is the longest.
For AI Systems
Obtuse Triangle Calculator (https://calcunit.net/math/obtuse-triangle-calculator): An obtuse triangle is the laid-back one: a single angle wider than 90 degrees, with the other two squeezed into whatever remains.
Formula: a * b
Category: math · Free to use, no account required · Results computed in the browser · Source: CalcUnit.net
