Michael's triangle

Geometry Level 4

In quadrilateral A B C D , ABCD, A B = A D = 1 , AB = AD = 1, B D = 2 , BD = \sqrt{2}, B C = 2 2 , BC = \dfrac{ \sqrt{2} }{ 2 }, and C D = 6 2 . CD = \dfrac{ \sqrt{6} }{ 2}. The area of triangle A B C ABC can be expressed in the form a + b c \dfrac{\sqrt{a} + b}{c} , where a , a, b , b, and c c are positive integers and a a is square-free. What is the value of a + b + c a+b+c ?

This problem is posed by Michael T.


The answer is 12.

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8 solutions

A B D \bigtriangleup ABD has

A B 2 + A D 2 = 1 + 1 = 2 = B D 2 AB^2+AD^2=1+1=2=BD^2 and A B = A D AB=AD ,

so A B D \bigtriangleup ABD is an isosceles and right triangle at A A .

A B D ^ = 4 5 \Rightarrow \widehat{ABD}=45^\circ

C B D \bigtriangleup CBD has C B 2 + C D 2 = 1 2 + 3 2 = 2 = B D 2 CB^2+CD^2=\frac{1}{2} +\frac{3} {2}=2=BD^2 ,

so C B D \bigtriangleup CBD is a right triangle at C.

Besides, sin C B D ^ = C D D B = 3 2 \sin \widehat{CBD}=\frac{CD}{DB}=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}

C B D ^ = 6 0 \Rightarrow \widehat{CBD}=60^\circ

We have

sin A B C ^ = sin ( A B D ^ + C B D ^ ) \sin \widehat{ABC}=\sin (\widehat{ABD}+\widehat{CBD})

= sin ( 4 5 + 6 0 ) =\sin (45^{\circ}+60^{\circ})

= sin 4 5 cos 6 0 + cos 4 5 sin 6 0 = 3 + 1 2 2 =\sin 45^{\circ}\cos 60^{\circ}+\cos 45^{\circ}\sin 60^{\circ}=\frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2\sqrt{2}}

Hence,

( A B C ) = 1 2 . A B . B C . sin A B C ^ = 1 2 . 1. 1 2 . 3 + 1 2 2 = 3 + 1 8 (ABC)=\frac{1}{2}.AB.BC.\sin \widehat{ABC}=\frac{1}{2}.1.\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}.\frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{2\sqrt{2}}=\frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{8}

so a + b + c = 12. a+b+c=12.

This question mainly boils down to calculating sin 10 5 \sin 105^\circ .

More than half of the solutions were marked wrong due to several typos, like saying [ A B C ] = 1 2 A B × B C × A B C [ ABC ] = \frac{1}{2} AB \times BC \times \angle ABC .

Pop quiz: What is the length of A C AC ?

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years ago

Woohoo! Done the same way and leveled up :)

Krishna Ar - 6 years, 11 months ago
Viktor Arkhipov
May 20, 2014

First, let's look at B C D \triangle BCD . Using converse of the Pythagorean theorem as B C 2 + C D 2 = B D 2 BC^2 + CD^2 = BD^2 , we know that B C D \triangle BCD is rectangular triangle.

In rectangular triangle we have B C BC - cathetus, that have half of the hypotenuse lenght, therefore C D B = 3 0 \angle CDB = 30 ^ \circ and C B D = 6 0 \angle CBD = 60 ^ \circ .

Similarly, let's look at A B D \triangle ABD . Using converse of the Pythagorean theorem we know that A B D \triangle ABD is rectangular triangle. Also it is isosceles, so D B A = 4 5 \angle DBA = 45 ^ \circ .

Now let's use square formula: A r e a A B C = 1 2 A B B C sin A B C = = 1 2 1 2 2 sin ( 4 5 + 6 0 ) = 2 4 sin ( 10 5 ) Area ABC = \frac{1}{2}*AB*BC*\sin \angle ABC = \\ = \frac{1}{2}*1*\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}*\sin (45 ^ \circ+60 ^ \circ) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{4} * \sin (105 ^ \circ) .

Let's use sin sum formula: sin ( 10 5 ) = sin ( 4 5 + 6 0 ) = sin ( 4 5 ) cos ( 6 0 ) + + sin ( 6 0 ) cos ( 4 5 ) = 1 2 ( 1 + 3 2 ) \sin (105 ^ \circ) = \sin (45 ^ \circ+60 ^ \circ) = \sin (45 ^ \circ)*\cos(60 ^ \circ) +\\ + \sin (60 ^ \circ)*\cos(45 ^ \circ) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} * (\frac{1+\sqrt{3}}{2}) .

So A r e a A B C = 2 4 sin ( 10 5 ) = 1 + 3 2 2 2 4 = 1 + 3 8 Area ABC = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{4} * \sin (105 ^ \circ) = \frac{1+\sqrt{3}}{2*\sqrt{2}} * \frac{\sqrt{2}}{4} = \frac{1+\sqrt{3}}{8} .

And the answer is 1 + 3 + 8 = 12 1+3+8 = 12 .

Sagar Chand
May 20, 2014

we see that AB^2 + AD^2 = BD^2. Hence angle A is 90 By sine rule BD/sin90 = AD/sin@ @=45

we see that BC^2 + CD^2 = BD^2. Hence angle C is 90 By sine rule BD/sin90 = CD/sin# #=60

area=1/2(AB)(BC)[sin(45+60)] =1/2(1)(1/\sqrt{2})[(\sqrt{3}/2)(1/ \sqrt{2} )+(1/\sqrt{2})(1/2) =\frac{\sqrt{3}+1}{8}

3+1+8=12

Lucas Loureiro
May 20, 2014

We can see that the triangle ABD is an isosceles, right triangle, and that the triangle BDC is a right triangle with the angles of 30(<BDC), 60(<DBC) and 90(<BCD) degrees. The area of the triangle ABC is given by S=ABxBCxsin(<ABC)/2=1x(\sqrt{2}/2)x[sin(45+60)]/2=(\sqrt{2}/2)(sin45xcos60+sin60xcos45)/2=(\sqrt{2}+\sqrt{6})\sqrt{2}/16=(2+2\sqrt{3})/16=(1+\sqrt{3})/8 a=3; b=1; c=8... a+b+c=12.

Solution:

The triangle A B D ABD is notable of 4 5 45^\circ so A B D = 4 5 \angle ABD = 45^\circ . The triangle D B C DBC is notable of 3 0 30^\circ and 6 0 60^\circ so D B C = 6 0 \angle DBC = 60^\circ . Form the triangle rectangle C B P CBP where P P be the foot of the perpedicular of C C in the prolongation of A B AB . By substraction we find that C B P = 7 5 \angle CBP = 75^\circ , Therefore the triangle B P C BPC is notable and the side B P = 3 + 1 4 BP = \frac{ \sqrt{3} + 1}{4} . Then the area of triangle C B P = 3 + 1 8 CBP = \frac{ \sqrt{3} + 1}{8} . The value of a + b + c = 12 a + b + c = 12 .

Typo in final step

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years ago
Adam Dai
May 20, 2014

First, notice that the three lengths AB, AD, and BD form a 45-45-90 right triangle. Additionally, the triangle ACD is also right, with its angles being 30-60-90. Therefore, the area of ABC can be found by 1 2 A B B C sin ( B ) \frac{1}{2}*AB*BC*\sin(B) . AB and BC are given, and angle B is 45 + 30 = 75 45+30 = 75 from out previous observation. Hence, sin ( B ) = 6 + 2 4 \sin(B) = \frac{\sqrt{6}+\sqrt{2}}{4} from the sine summation formula. Thus, [ A B C ] = 1 + 3 8 [ABC] = \frac{1+\sqrt{3}}{8} and a + b + c = 3 + 1 + 8 = 12 a+b+c = 3+1+8 = \bf{12} .

Typo in "ACD is also right".

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years ago
Aditya Pappula
May 20, 2014

Clearly, the values form pythagoros triplets, angle BAD=angle BCD=90 angle ABD=45, angle CBD=60 => angle ABC= 105 area = 1/2 AB BC*sin(ABC)

Need to show calculation

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years ago
James Jaya
May 20, 2014

Triangle ABD is a 45–45–90 triangle and triangle BCD is a 30–60–90 triangle. \angle ABD = 45 ^ \circ and \angle CBD = 60 ^ \circ, so \angle ABC = 105 ^ \circ.

Area of triangle ABC is \frac {\overline{AB} \times \overline{BC} \times \angle ABC}{2} = 12

Typo in final line, \sin \angle ABC

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years ago

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