Coordinate Geometry?

Geometry Level 3

In A B C \triangle ABC , A = 2 B \angle A=2\angle B and a a , b b and c c are the lengths of sides B C BC , C A CA and A B AB respectively. Find a 2 b ( b + c ) a^2-b(b+c) .


The answer is 0.

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5 solutions

Construct A D AD , D D on B C BC , such that A D = D B B A D = C A D = A B D AD=DB\Rightarrow \angle BAD=\angle CAD=\angle ABD . Let A D = d = D B AD=d=DB , so C D = a d CD=a-d .

Now, we use Stewart's theorem and angle bisector theorem to derive some interesting results:

b 2 d + c 2 ( a d ) = a ( a d ) d + d 2 a b^2d+c^2(a-d)=a(a-d)d+d^2a a c c d = b d a c = b d + c d ac-cd=bd \Rightarrow ac=bd+cd

Let us expand out the first equation first. b 2 d + c 2 a c 2 d = a 2 d a d 2 + a d 2 a 2 d = b 2 d c 2 d + c 2 b^2d+c^2a-c^2d=a^2d-ad^2+ad^2\\a^2d=b^2d-c^2d+c^2

Now, sub in the second equation. a 2 d = b 2 d c 2 d + ( b d + c d ) c a 2 d = b 2 d + b c d a 2 = b ( b + c ) a^2d=b^2d-c^2d+(bd+cd)c\\a^2d=b^2d+bcd\\a^2=b(b+c)

Hence, a 2 b ( b + c ) = 0 a^2-b(b+c)=0

I had a more synthetic soln using similar triangles.

Aditya Kumar - 4 years, 12 months ago

This is a piece of cake. Let the triangle be a 30-60-90 one.

So <B = 30, <A = 60, <C = 90

a = sqrt(3) b = 1 c = 2

a^2 - b(b + c) = 3 - 1(1 + 2) = 0 --> Answer

You have found the answer for a 30-60-90 triangle. What makes you certain that the answer will be the same for other triangles satisfying the criteria in the question, but not similar to a 30-60-90 triangle?

A = 2 B S i n 2 B = 2 C o s B S i n B S i n C = S i n ( 180 A B ) = S i n ( A + B ) = S i n 3 B = S i n B ( 3 4 S i n 2 B ) = S i n B ( 4 C o s 2 B 1 ) U s i n g S i n L a w : a S i n 2 B = b S i n B = c S i n C a 2 S i n B C o s B = b S i n B = c S i n B ( 4 C o s 2 B 1 ) a 2 = ( 2 C o s B ) 2 b 2 , c = ( 4 C o s 2 B 1 ) b . a 2 b ( b + c ) = 4 C o s 2 B b 2 b { b + ( 4 C o s 2 B 1 ) b } = 0. A=2B\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ Sin2B=2*CosB*SinB\\ SinC=Sin(180 - A - B)=Sin(A+B)=Sin3B=SinB(3 - 4Sin^2B)=SinB(4Cos^2B - 1) \\ Using\ Sin\ Law:-\\ \dfrac{a}{Sin2B}=\dfrac{b}{SinB}=\dfrac{c}{SinC}\ \ \ \implies\ \dfrac{a}{2SinB*CosB}=\dfrac{b}{SinB}=\dfrac{c}{SinB(4Cos^2B - 1)}\\ \therefore\ \ a^2=(2CosB)^2*b^2,\ \ \ c=(4Cos^2B - 1)*b.\\ \therefore\ \ a^2 - b(b+c)=4Cos^2B*b^2 - b\{b+(4Cos^2B - 1)b\} = 0.

Deepak Kumar
Jun 5, 2016

Solutions already given here really nice!I used an isosceles right angled triangle right angled at A with side lengths b=c=1.Since the only relation we need to take care of is angle A is twice angle B,made me go for this particular example to get the answer.

You have proved for one specific case. It might be true ONLY for that case not for other. Your method is good to know what MIGHT be the answer, it is not a solution.

Niranjan Khanderia - 5 years ago
Ahmad Saad
Jun 5, 2016

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