A geometry problem by Guy Fox

Geometry Level 3

Let a , b , c a,b,c be the sides of a triangle that satisfy 3 a + b + c = 1 a + b + 1 a + c . \dfrac3{a+b+c}=\dfrac1{a+b} + \dfrac1{a+c}. What is the angle (in degrees) between the sides b b and c c ?


The answer is 60.

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1 solution

Guy Fox
Sep 15, 2018

3 a + b + c = 1 a + b + 1 a + c \dfrac{3}{a+b+c} =\dfrac{1}{a+b}+\dfrac{1}{a+c}

After some algebraic manipulations we get:

a 2 = b 2 + c 2 b c a^{2}=b^{2}+c^{2}-b\cdot c

Which resembles the cosine law

a 2 = b 2 + c 2 2 b c cos α a^{2}=b^{2}+c^{2}-2\cdot b\cdot c\cdot \cos α

b c = 2 b c cos α -b \cdot c = -2\cdot b\cdot c\cdot \cos α

α = 60 ° α = 60°

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