A B C is a triangle with a right angle at A . M and N are points on B C such that A M is the altitude, and A N is the angle bisector of ∠ B A C . If N B C N = 2 1 , what is M B C M ?
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If you are unfamiliar with the Angle-Bisector Theorem, you should read Worked Example 3 .
From Angle Bisector Theorem, we know that N B A B = C N A C . This can be rearranged as A B A C = N B C N = 1 5 . Because AM is an altitude drawn within a right triangle, we know that △ A B C ∼ △ M B A ∼ △ M A C . We notice that △ M B A and △ M A C share A M so we can relate C M and M B with the previous proportion since the triangles are similar. M A C M = M B A M = 1 5 . From this, we get M B C M = 2 2 5 .
It's clear that angles A and B are acute angles. Let C N = 1 5 x and B N = x , where x is a positive real number.
Using Sine Rule on Δ A N B , we have B N sin ∠ B A N = A N sin ∠ B ⇒ x sin ∠ B A N = A N sin ∠ B ⇒ sin ∠ B sin ∠ B A N = A N x
Similarly, on Δ A N C , we have C N sin ∠ C A N = A N sin ∠ C ⇒ 1 5 x sin ∠ C A N = A N sin ∠ C ⇒ 1 5 sin ∠ C sin ∠ C A N = A N x
Using the fact that the sine of an angle equals the cosine of its complement, i.e. sin ( 2 π − x ) = cos x , we get sin ∠ C = cos ∠ B . Also, it's given that ∠ C A N = ∠ B A N ⇒ sin ∠ C A N = sin ∠ B A N , from the angle bisector defintion. Hence, 1 5 cos ∠ B sin ∠ C A N = A N x . Equating the terms equal to A N x ,
sin ∠ B = 1 5 cos ∠ B ⇒ tan ∠ B = 1 5
Now, it's given that A M is perpendicular to B C . Then, it's clear that Δ A M B and Δ A M C are right triangles with right angle at M .
Thus, tan ∠ C = C M A M and tan ∠ B = B M A M .
Thus, it suffices to find the value of tan ∠ C tan ∠ B , since it's equivalent to M B C M .
We use the property tan ( 2 π − x ) = cot x = tan x 1 . Thus, tan ∠ C tan ∠ B = tan 2 ∠ B .
tan ∠ B = 1 5 ⇒ tan 2 ∠ B = 2 2 5
From the Angle Bisector Theorem, CA/AB=15. Without loss of generality, assume that AB=1 and AC=15 to make computations simpler. Then BC=sqrt226. Let x=BM and y=AM. Then CM=sqrt226-x. From the Pythagorean Theorem, x^2+y^2=1 and y^2+(sqrt226-x)^2=225. Solving for x and y, we find the answer to be 225.
using sine rule, CN/sin(<CAN)=AN/sin(C)-----(1) BN/sin(<NAB)=AN/sin(B)-----(2) but <CAN=<NAB=45 <B+<C=90 so sinC=sin(90-B)=cosB--------(3) CN/BN=15--------(4) from (1),(2),(3) and (4), tanB=15
now let <CAM=x <MAB=90-x therefore <B=x (since <MAB+<AMB+<B=180) using sine rule, CM/sinx=AM/sinC BM/sin(90-x)=AM/sinB on solving, we get CM/BM=(sinB.sinx)/(sinC.cosx)=tan^2(B)=(15)^2=225
Let CN=15y and BN=y. Let AM=h. By the AngleBisector Theorem, we can let AC=15x and AB=x. By the Phytagorean Theorem: (15x)^2+x^2=(16y)^2 => 256/226=(x/y)^2. Because (AC) (AB)/2=(BC) h/2 (area of triangle), h=15/16 (x^2 y). By Phytagorean Theorem: (CM)/(MB)=sqrt((AC)^2-(AM)^2)/sqrt((AB)^2-(AM)^2)=sqrt(225x^2-(15/16 x^2/y)^2)/sqrt(x^2-(15/16 x^2/y)^2). Factoring it an x^2 => sqrt(225-225/256 (x/y)^2)/sqrt(1-225/256 (x/y)^2). Plugging in for (x/y)^2 gets you that the ratio is 225.
As the tags suggest, we'll need the angle bisector theorem , concept of similar figures, triangle properties and ... geometry (duh!).
Whenever you see a problem with angle bisectors of a triangle and ratios, your first approach should be the angle bisector theorem. This approach works (almost) all the time. So let's see what happens when we use the angle bisector theorem here.
Since A N is the the bisector of ∠ B A C , B A C A = N B C N = 2 1 ⋯ ( 1 ) .
A little bit of angle chasing reveals to us that all the right triangles △ A B C , △ A B M and △ A C M , are similar to each other. That means:
B A C A = A M C M ⋯ ( 2 ) [comparing △ A B C and △ A C M ]
B A C A = M B A M ⋯ ( 3 ) [comparing △ A B C and △ A B M ]
Multiply ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) to get ( B A C A ) 2 = M B C M . From ( 1 ) , B A C A = 2 1 .
So, M B C M = 2 1 2 = 4 4 1 and we're done!
well explained!!
did the same way. didn't think of similarity, just it was a right triangle, thought of trigonometric ratios for comparing.
By the angle bisector theorem, N B C N = A B C A = 2 1 Then, by similar triangles, M B C M = M A C M ⋅ M B A M = A B C A ⋅ A B C A = 2 1 ⋅ 2 1 = 4 4 1
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Since, in △ A B C , the angular-bisector of ∠ A meets B C at N , from the Angle-Bisector Theorem, we have, N B C N = A B A C = 1 5 .
Again, since, ∠ A = 9 0 ∘ and A M ⊥ B C , we have, △ A M C ∼ △ A M B .
So, A M C M = M B A M = A B A C = 1 5
⇒ C M = 1 5 . A M , and, M B = 1 5 A M .
Therefore, M B C M = 1 5 A M 1 5 . A M = 1 5 2 = 2 2 5