Suppose that in triangle ABC, we draw D on
BC and BD=m, AB=c, AC=b, CD=n, m+n=BC=a, AD=d.
Since ADC=180−ABD, we have cosADC=−cosABD.
By the Law of Cosines, c2=d2+m2−2dmcosADB, and also b2=d2+n2−2dncosADC..
We find cosADB=cosADC=2dmd2+m2−c2=−2dnd2+n2−b2
(basically we just isolated the cosines in each equation and set them equal)
Now we obtain d2n+m2n−c2n=−d2m−n2m+b2m or d2n+d2m+m2n+n2m=b2m+c2n, and simplifying yields
d2a+amn=b2m+c2n, or Stewart's theorem.
For memorization purposes, it may be easier to remember
man+dad=bmb+cnc
The mnemonic to remember this formula is "A man and his dad put a bomb in the sink."