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Let ABC be an isosceles triangle in which Angle BAC = 20 degrees and AB=AC. Let D be a point on the side AC such that AD=BC. Find Angle ABD.

(This is from a source of problems for practice, but without hints or solutions, so they're challenges For anyone who wants to checks it out, the source is this: Challenges And Thrills In Pre-College Mathematics)

10 degrees 30 degrees 20 degrees 45 degrees

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2 solutions

Let A B D = α \angle {ABD}=α . Then

B D sin 20 ° = A D sin α \dfrac{|\overline {BD}|}{\sin 20\degree}=\dfrac{|\overline {AD}|}{\sin α}

B D sin 80 ° = B C sin ( 20 ° + α ) = A D sin ( 20 ° + α ) \dfrac{|\overline {BD}|}{\sin 80\degree}=\dfrac{|\overline {BC}|}{\sin (20\degree+α)}=\dfrac{|\overline {AD}|}{\sin (20\degree+α)}

sin 80 ° sin α = sin 20 ° sin ( 20 ° + α ) \implies \sin 80\degree\sin α=\sin 20\degree\sin (20\degree+α)

tan α = sin 2 20 ° sin 80 ° sin 20 ° cos 20 ° = tan 10 ° \implies \tan α=\dfrac{\sin^2 20\degree}{\sin 80\degree-\sin 20\degree\cos 20\degree}=\tan 10\degree

α = 10 ° \implies α=\boxed {10\degree} .

That's a nice approach! Mine was geometric and not trigonometric, but this is still interesting

Sachetan Debray - 1 year ago

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Your approach, even though a bit lengthy, is better than mine. Carry on.

Sachetan Debray
May 27, 2020

The solution is very simple and becomes apparent after one notices the construction that can be made.

Construct a triangle EDA on base AD which is congruent to triangle ABC.

Then join point E with B.

Immediately

Angle AED = Angle CAB = 20 degrees

Also Angle EAB = 80 degrees-20 degrees=60 degrees

Observe AE = AB by congruency criterion

and Angle EAB = 60 degrees

Thus triangle EAB is equilateral

Thus BE = AB

Also by congruency criterion applied to triangle ABC and triangle ADE, ED=AB

Thus ED=BE

Also by angle-chasing in triangle EDA and triangle EDB,

Angle BED=40 degrees

since ED=BE, angle EBD=70 degrees(by isosceles triangle theorem and angle sum property in triangle EBD

Angle EBA=60 degrees(equilateral triangle property)

so Angle ABD=70 degrees - 60 degrees=10 degrees

All angles are in degrees.

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