3.II.15G

Geometry
Part IB, 2004

Let a,b,ca, b, c be the lengths of a right-angled triangle in spherical geometry, where cc is the hypotenuse. Prove the Pythagorean theorem for spherical geometry in the form

cosc=cosacosb\cos c=\cos a \cos b

Now consider such a spherical triangle with the sides a,ba, b replaced by λa,λb\lambda a, \lambda b for a positive number λ\lambda. Show that the above formula approaches the usual Pythagorean theorem as λ\lambda approaches zero.