# The area of a right spherical triangle

Is there a compact formula for the area (excess angle – assuming a unit sphere) of a right spherical triangle given its side lengths $a$ and $b$?

As explained in an answer to an earlier question about the area of a generic spherical triangle, the excess angle $E$ is given by $$\tan\frac E4=\sqrt{\tan\frac{a+b+c}4\tan\frac{-a+b+c}4\tan\frac{a-b+c}4\tan\frac{a+b-c}4}$$ However, I do not have $c$. Of course, I can use Napier's rules for right spherical triangles to find $c$.

I thought about using integration in spherical coordinates (assuming B is the north pole and equating $a$ and $c$ with polar and azimuthal angles respectively). That approach, however, requires knowing the exact representation of the great circle that connects $A$ to $B$ in the coordinate chart.

• Probably just simplify the formula? – user202729 Dec 10 '17 at 4:35
• Note that there is also the equivalent of the Pythagorean Theorem (Theorem 4.3) to get $c$: $$\cos(c)=\cos(a)\cos(b)$$ – robjohn Dec 10 '17 at 12:56

In Theorem 9.2 of this document, it is shown that the area of a spherical right triangle, $E$, is given by $$\tan\left(\frac E2\right)=\tan\left(\frac a2\right)\tan\left(\frac b2\right)$$ where $a$ and $b$ are the two legs of the right spherical triangle.

• Wow. I didn’t know that. Much swifter than my primitive method. – Lubin Dec 10 '17 at 4:49

Napier’s Rules do it easily. The Rule that helps you is $\sin b=\tan a\cot A$, in other words, \begin{align} \tan A&=\frac{\tan a}{\sin b}&A&=\arctan\left(\frac{\tan a}{\sin b}\right)\,,\\ \tan B&=\frac{\tan b}{\sin a}&B&=\arctan\left(\frac{\tan b}{\sin a}\right)\,,\\ \text{area}&=A+B-\frac\pi2\,. \end{align}

• (+1) I think this can be worked into the formula in my answer. – robjohn Dec 10 '17 at 4:57
• Very likely, @robjohn. I was just too lazy to try. – Lubin Dec 10 '17 at 5:21

According to Todhunter's Spherical Trigonometry (section VIII example 4): $$\sin\frac E2=\sin\frac a2\sin\frac b2\sec\frac c2$$ $$\cos\frac E2=\cos\frac a2\cos\frac b2\sec\frac c2$$ Then $$\tan\frac E2=\tan\frac a2\tan\frac b2$$ According to item 99 of the same source, $E=A+B+C-\pi$ for any triangle on the unit sphere. When $C=\frac\pi2$: $$E=A+B-\frac\pi2$$

• (+1) If you look at example 4. in section VIII (p.78) and divide the formula for $\sin\left(\frac12E\right)$ by the formula for $\cos\left(\frac12E\right)$, you get the formula in my answer. – robjohn Dec 10 '17 at 4:56
• @robjohn Worked in. – Parcly Taxel Dec 10 '17 at 5:02