In Figure 1, a, b, and c are the lengths of the three sides of the triangle, and α, β, and γ are the angles opposite those three respective sides. The law of tangents states that The law of tangents, although not as commonly known as the law of sines or the law of cosines, is just as useful, and can be used in any case where two sides and an angle, or two angles and a side are known. The law of tangents used for spherical triangles was discovered and proven by the 13th century Persian mathematician, Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, who also discovered and proved the law of sines for plane triangles.