Constructions Around a Circle

Geometry Level 5

Outside of circle Γ \Gamma , point A A is chosen. Tangents A B AB and A C AC to Γ \Gamma are drawn, with B , C B, C on the circumference of Γ \Gamma . On the extension of A B AB , D D is a point such that B B is between A A and D D , and A D C = 2 5 \angle ADC = 25 ^ \circ . The circumcircle of A D C ADC intersects Γ \Gamma again at E E (different from point C C ). F F is the foot of the perpendicular from B B to D C DC . What is the measure (in degrees) of D E F \angle DEF ?


The answer is 50.

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3 solutions

Weiming Zheng
Oct 30, 2019

I approach problems like this by identifying special cases that make it easier to work w/. Here, the special case I use is when EF⊥CD:

1). Tagent-chord theorem => ∠AEC = ∠ADC = 25°.

2). ∆ACE ≌ ∆ACE => ∠BEA = ∠CEA = 25°; ∆ACE ≌ ∆ACE => AG ⊥ BC. Thus ∠CBE = 65°.

3). ∠CBE = ∠DBE & EF ⊥ CD => CF = DF, & hence ∠DEF = 50°.

Calvin Lin Staff
May 13, 2014

Let C D CD intersect Γ \Gamma again at G G . Let E G EG extended intersect A D AD at H H . By alternate segment theorem, A E D = A C D = A C G = G E C \angle AED = \angle ACD = \angle ACG = \angle GEC , so D E G = C E A = C D A = 2 5 \angle DEG = \angle CEA = \angle CDA = \angle 25^\circ .

Observe that H D G HDG and H E D HED are similar triangles, so H D 2 = H G × H E HD^2 = HG \times HE . By power of a point, the power of H H with respect to Γ \Gamma gives H B 2 = H G × H E HB^2 = HG \times HE . Hence H D = H B HD = HB , so H H is the midpoint of the hypotenuse, and H D = H B = H F HD = HB = HF .

Hence, H F D = H D F = 2 5 = H E D \angle HFD = \angle HDF = 25^\circ = \angle HED , so points D , E , F , H D, E, F, H are concyclic. This shows that H E F = H D F = 2 5 \angle HEF = \angle HDF = 25^\circ . Thus, D E F = D E H + H E F = 5 0 \angle DEF = \angle DEH + \angle HEF = 50 ^\circ .

黎 李
May 20, 2014

Let M be midpoint of BD, DC intersect circle with N, then BM=MD=MF=sqrt(power of M), MN must pass E by congruence

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