Centroid, Incentre, Orthocentre?

Geometry Level 5

As shown above, an angle bisector, median, and altitude intersect at the same point in right triangle A B C . ABC.

cos 2 A B C = p q + r , \cos^2 \angle ABC = \dfrac{p}{q+\sqrt{r}}, where p p and q q are positive integers and r r is a prime number . Find the value of p + q + r p+q+r .


The answer is 10.

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3 solutions

We shall use Ceva's theorem to convert the concurrency condition into an equivalent condition involving ratio of side lengths.

Referring to the figure, Ceva's theorem gives us A F F C C D D B B E E A = 1 \frac{AF}{FC} \cdot \frac{CD}{DB} \cdot \frac{BE}{EA}=1

Using the angle bisector theorem we have that A F F C = cos α \frac{AF}{FC} = \cos \alpha

Using the definition of a median , we have B E E A = 1 \frac{BE}{EA} =1

Now, using a little trigonometry, we get the folowing:

A B B C = cos α B D A B = cos α B D = B C cos 2 α C D = B C sin 2 α C D D B = tan 2 α \begin{aligned} \frac{AB}{BC} &= \cos \alpha \\ \frac{BD}{AB} &= \cos \alpha \\ \implies BD &= BC \cos^2 \alpha \\\implies CD &= BC \sin^2 \alpha \\\implies \frac{CD}{DB} &= \tan^2 \alpha \end{aligned}

So, plugging all these into the first equation, we have:

cos α tan 2 α = 1 tan 2 α = sec α sec 2 α = sec α + 1 sec α = φ ( sec α 1 ) \begin{aligned} \cos \alpha \tan^2 \alpha &= 1 \\\implies \tan^2 \alpha &= \sec \alpha \\\implies \sec^2 \alpha &= \sec \alpha + 1 \\\implies \sec \alpha &= \varphi \quad \left(\because \sec \alpha \geq 1 \right) \end{aligned}

Where φ \varphi is the golden ratio .

Now, cos α = 1 φ cos 2 α = 1 φ 2 = 1 1 + φ = 1 1 + 1 + 5 2 = 2 3 + 5 \begin{aligned} \cos \alpha &= \frac{1}{\varphi} \\\implies \cos^2 \alpha &= \frac{1}{\varphi^2} \\ &= \frac{1}{1+\varphi} \\ &= \frac{1}{1+\frac{1+\sqrt5}{2}} \\ &= \frac{2}{3+\sqrt5} \end{aligned}

Therefore, a = 2 b = 3 c = 5 a + b + c = 10 a=2 \\ b=3 \\ c=5 \\ a+b+c= \boxed{10}

Rightly featured. Brilliant.

Mehul Arora - 5 years ago

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Thanks for the compliment!

add diagram to illustrate where the point F is

Sourjyo Deb - 3 years, 8 months ago

My answer would have been same as Chan Lye Lee's but sir ur answer is brilliant I should have thought more

Abhas Bhargava - 3 years, 2 months ago
Ahmad Saad
Jun 15, 2016

Sorry Mr Deeparaj Bhat , I don't review your solution before submitting my private.

good solution prof Ahmed i hope you well we have problem how can we put it in this site

Aly Ahmed - 5 years ago

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After you putting correct answer , click on discuss solution or no solution yet.

Page will open to writing and posting your detailed solution.

Ahmad Saad - 5 years ago

That's alright!

Chan Lye Lee
Jun 14, 2016

Relevant wiki: 2D Coordinate Geometry - Problem Solving

Let A = ( 0 , 0 ) , B = ( 0 , 2 p ) , C = ( 2 q , 0 ) A=(0,0), B=(0,2p), C=(2q,0) and F = ( r , 0 ) F=(r,0) . Then E = ( 0 , p ) E=(0,p) .

Now the gradient of B C BC is p q -\frac{p}{q} and the gradient of C E CE is p 2 q -\frac{p}{2q} . This means that the equation of A D AD is p y = q x py=qx and the equation of C E CE is y = p x 2 q + p y=-\frac{px}{2q}+p . Solving these equation, we get the intersect point G = ( 2 p 2 q p 2 + 2 q 2 , 2 p q 2 p 2 + 2 q 2 ) G=\left(\frac{2p^2q}{p^2+2q^2},\frac{2pq^2}{p^2+2q^2}\right) .

Next, since B F BF bisects A B C \angle ABC , 2 p 2 p 2 + q 2 = r 2 q r \frac{2p}{2\sqrt{p^2+q^2}}=\frac{r}{2q-r} , which implies that r = 2 p q p + p 2 + q 2 r=\frac{2pq}{p+\sqrt{p^2+q^2}} .

Since the points B , G B, G and F F collinear, the gradient of B F BF equals to the gradient of B G BG , which means that 2 p 2 p q p + p 2 + q 2 = 2 p q 2 p 2 + 2 q 2 2 p 2 p 2 q p 2 + 2 q 2 \frac{-2p}{\frac{2pq}{p+\sqrt{p^2+q^2}}} = \frac{\frac{2pq^2}{p^2+2q^2}-2p}{\frac{2p^2q}{p^2+2q^2}} . After manipulation, we obtained q 2 = 1 + 5 2 p 2 q^2=\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}p^2 .

Finally, cos 2 α = p 2 p 2 + q 2 = p 2 p 2 + 1 + 5 2 p 2 = 2 3 + 5 = a b + c \cos^2\alpha = \frac{p^2}{p^2+q^2}=\frac{p^2}{p^2+\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}p^2}=\frac{2}{3+\sqrt{5}}=\frac{a}{b+\sqrt{c}} . So a + b + c = 10 a+b+c=\boxed{10} , as c c is prime.

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