Pythagorean point in Equilateral triangle

Geometry Level 4

There is a point P in an equilateral triangle ABC such that P A 2 = P B 2 + P C 2 PA^2=PB^2+PC^2 . Find the measure of angle BPC in degrees.


The answer is 150.

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2 solutions

Akash Deep
Aug 14, 2014

construct an equilateral triangle PDC such that D is a point outside triangle ABC somewhere below BC. now PD = PC = CD.let angle BCP = x then BCD = 60 - x and PCA = 60 - x . now in triangle BDC and APC BC = AC , BCD = PCA = 60 - x and PC = PD (as constructed). so they are congruent. now AP = BD by cpct PC = PD therefore B D 2 = P B 2 + P D 2 w e f i n d p y t h a g o r o u s t h e o r e m t r u e i n t h i s t r i a n g l e t h u s a n g l e B P D = 90 a n d B P C = B P D + D P C B P C = 90 + 60 = 150 { BD }^{ 2 }\quad =\quad { { { PB } } }^{ 2\quad }+\quad { PD }^{ 2 }\\ we\quad find\quad pythagorous\quad theorem\quad true\quad in\quad this\quad triangle\\ thus\quad angle\quad BPD\quad =\quad 90\quad \\ and\quad BPC\quad =\quad BPD\quad +\quad DPC\quad \\ BPC\quad =\quad 90\quad +\quad 60\quad =\quad 150

Before proving the congruency, you should write PC=CD. Nice solution BTW.

Sanjeet Raria - 6 years, 9 months ago
Paola Ramírez
Jul 17, 2015

Let be P P' a point outside of A B C \triangle ABC so that P C = P C P'C=PC and P B = P A P'B=PA . P C P = 60 ° \Rightarrow \angle P'CP=60° and as P C = P C P'C=PC , C P P = C P P = 60 ° P P C \angle CP'P=\angle CPP'=60° \therefore \triangle PP'C is equilateral. Also, P P B \triangle P'PB is right so P P B = 90 ° \angle P'PB=90°

B P C = P P B + C P P = 90 ° + 60 ° = 150 ° \angle BPC=\angle P'PB+\angle CP'P=90°+60°=\boxed{150°}

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