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Geometry Level 5

Let A B C ABC be an isosceles triangle with A B C = A C B = 8 0 \angle ABC = \angle ACB = 80^{\circ} . Point M M is on side A B AB (not on A B AB extended) such that A M = B C AM = BC . Find M C B \angle MCB in degrees.


The answer is 70.

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4 solutions

Shaun Leong
Jan 7, 2016

Image from GeoGebra .

Motivation for construction: A M = B C AM=BC means that we would want to "move" a shape with base A M AM (probably a triangle) to B C BC .

Hence we have point D D such that B C D A M C \triangle BCD \equiv \triangle AMC .

By construction, B D = A C = A B BD=AC=AB , thus A B D \triangle ABD is an isosceles triangle.

Also, M A C = 18 0 2 8 0 = 2 0 A B D = 8 0 2 0 = 6 0 \angle MAC = 180^\circ - 2*80^\circ = 20^\circ \Rightarrow \angle ABD = 80^\circ - 20^\circ\ = 60^\circ

Hence A B D \triangle ABD is an equilateral triangle.

Furthermore, note that A D = B D = A C AD=BD=AC , so A C D \triangle ACD is isosceles.

C A D = 6 0 2 0 = 4 0 \angle CAD = 60^\circ - 20^\circ = 40^\circ A D C = 18 0 4 0 2 = 7 0 \Rightarrow \angle ADC = \frac {180^\circ-40^\circ}{2} = 70^\circ A C M = B D C = 7 0 6 0 = 1 0 \Rightarrow \angle ACM = \angle BDC = 70^\circ-60^\circ=10^\circ

Finally, M C B = 8 0 1 0 = 7 0 \angle MCB = 80^\circ-10^\circ = \boxed{70^\circ}

Nice construction! Good job

Racchit Jain - 5 years, 5 months ago

i did it without construction because im not neat at all

lol

Hamza A - 5 years, 5 months ago

Without loss of generality let BC=1. Applying Sin Law to triangle ABC we get B C S i n 20 = A B S i n 80 . A B = 2.87938. M B = 1.87938. I n Δ M B C , A p p l y i n g C o s L a w , M C 2 = 1.8793 8 2 + 1 2 2 1.87938 1 C o s 80 , M C = 1.9696. A p p l y i n g S i n L a w , S i n M C B 1.87938 = S i n 80 1.9696 . M C B = 7 0 o . \text{Without loss of generality let BC=1.}\\ \text{Applying Sin Law to triangle ABC we get } \dfrac{BC}{Sin20}= \dfrac{AB}{Sin80}.\\ AB= 2.87938. ~~ \therefore ~MB=1.87938.\\ In ~\Delta ~MBC,\\ Applying~ Cos ~Law,~~MC^2=1.87938^2+1^2 - 2*1.87938*1*Cos80, \therefore~ MC=1.9696.\\ Applying ~ Sin ~ Law, ~~~~~~~~\dfrac{SinMCB}{1.87938}=\dfrac{Sin80}{1.9696}.\\ \therefore ~\angle MCB=\Large \color{#D61F06}{70^o}.

why do you let BC be 1 and how does this not effect the question in a negative way?

Asad Jawaid - 5 years, 5 months ago

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Because the length is arbitrary. Scaling all lengths the same leaves the angles invariant, so you might as well just set the one unknown length to 1

Henryk Haniewicz - 5 years, 5 months ago

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ok thank you

Asad Jawaid - 5 years, 5 months ago

Thank you. It also simplifies calculations.

Niranjan Khanderia - 5 years, 5 months ago
Ahmad Saad
Jan 8, 2016

Nice construction! What software is that?

Shaun Leong - 5 years, 5 months ago

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AutoCAD software program.

Ahmad Saad - 5 years, 5 months ago
Ramiro del Alamo
Jan 23, 2016

I hope it is clear enough, it is only 2 equations, but a calculator is needed to get the final number.

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