Distance Between Intersection Points

Geometry Level 4

On a semicircle with diameter A B AB and centre O O points X X and Y Y are chosen such that X O Y = 12 0 \angle XOY = 120^{\circ} . Let A X AX and B Y BY meet at Z Z and A Y AY and B X BX meet at W W . If A B = 5 3 AB = 5\sqrt{3} , find W Z WZ .


The answer is 15.

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4 solutions

Sagnik Saha
Jan 28, 2014

We join X , Y X,Y . Note that A X B = A Y B = 9 0 \angle AXB = \angle AYB = 90^{\circ} and X O XO , Y O YO are the medians of the right angled triangles A X B AXB and A Y B AYB . Let X B O = α \angle XBO = \alpha and Y A O = β \angle YAO = \beta . Thus O X B = α \angle OXB = \alpha and X Y A = α \angle XYA = \alpha . Similarly Y X B = β = Y A B \angle YXB = \beta = \angle YAB . Thus α + β = 3 0 \alpha + \beta = 30^{\circ} .

Now if we assume that A O = X O = Y O = B O = x AO=XO=YO=BO=x , then law of cosines in X O Y \triangle XOY yields X Y = x 3 XY = x\sqrt{3} .

Now note that W X Z = W Y Z = 9 0 \angle WXZ = \angle WYZ = 90^{\circ} and hence W X Z Y WXZY is cyclic, W Z WZ being the diameter of the circumscribing circle. . Thus X Z Y = X Z W + W Z Y = X Y W + W X Y = α + β = 3 0 \angle XZY = \angle XZW + \angle WZY = \angle XYW + \angle WXY= \alpha + \beta = 30^{\circ} . Therefore X W Y = 15 0 \angle XWY = 150^{\circ} . Now Sine rule in X W Y \triangle XWY yields

X Y sin X W Y = 2 R = W Z \dfrac{XY}{\sin \angle XWY} = 2R = WZ

or, x 3 sin 15 0 \dfrac{x \sqrt{3}}{\sin 150^{\circ}} = W Z WZ

or, 2 × x 3 = W Z 2 \times x \sqrt{3}= WZ

or, 2 x × 3 = W Z 2x \times \sqrt{3} = WZ

or, W Z = 3 A B = 3 × 5 3 = 15 WZ = \sqrt{3} AB = \sqrt{3} \times 5\sqrt{3} = \boxed{15}

Another Solution for this .Join XY . Since angle AXB and AYB are semicircular so ang.AXB=angle.AYB=90 .Therefore Quad.ZXWY is concyclic ,hence ang.XZW=ang.XYW but ang.XYW=ang.XYA=ang.XBA (angle on the same segment) . So Tri. XZW is similar to Tri.XBA ,So XA/XW=AB/WZ also ang.XAW=ang.XOY/2=60 Therefore XA/XW=1/root3=5root3/WZ so WZ=5root3*root3=15

Aditya Singh - 7 years, 4 months ago

WXZ is a right triangle, so the hypotenuse is equal to the diameter

Varun Jain - 7 years, 4 months ago

thank you

Keshav Bansal - 7 years, 4 months ago

WZ=OZ -OW =OA tanOAZ - OA tanOAW =OA(tan1/2BOX - tan 1/2BOY) =OA(tan 0.5 150 - tan0.5 30) =5*root(3)/2( tan 75 - tan 15 ) =15 Answer

Considering symetrical segment..

Vaibhav Agarwal
Feb 25, 2014

It is clear that angle ZXW = angle ZYW = 90 (since AB is diameter) therefore, XWYZ is cyclic

Let angle AYO be x and BXO be y. Therefore, OAY=x(isoceles triangle AOY) and OBX=y(isoceles triangle OBX)

angle BOY=2*BAY=2x and XOA=2y

Thus, x+y=30 (since 2x+2y+120=180)

Now, angle XWY=120+x+y=150

Applying sine law in XOY(an isoceles triangle since OX=OY=r), we get XY/sin120 = OX/sin30 which gives XY=7.5

Further, Applying sine law in ZXY, we get XY/sin30=2R(where R is the radius of the circumcircle) Thus 2R=15 and since the circumcircle is also the circumcircle of WXZ(since WXZY is cyclic), therefore 2R=WZ=15.

Jason Tang
Feb 9, 2014

Without loss of generality, assume that X and Y are equidistant from AB. Then angle YOB=30 and O Y = 5 3 2 OY=\frac{5\sqrt{3}}{2} . Let the altitude from Y to AB intersect AB at point G. Notice that Y O G \triangle YOG is a 30-60-90 right triangle. Therefore, Y G = 5 3 4 YG=\frac{5\sqrt{3}}{4} and G O = 15 4 GO=\frac{15}{4} . From this, we deduce that G B = 5 3 2 15 4 GB=\frac{5\sqrt{3}}{2}-\frac{15}{4} . Then, by similarity of triangles, we have Z O 5 3 4 = 5 3 2 5 3 2 15 4 \frac{ZO}{\frac{5\sqrt{3}}{4}}=\frac{\frac{5\sqrt{3}}{2}}{\frac{5\sqrt{3}}{2}-\frac{15}{4}} = 75 8 5 3 2 15 4 =\frac{\frac{75}{8}}{\frac{5\sqrt{3}}{2}-\frac{15}{4}} = 75 20 3 30 =\frac{75}{20\sqrt{3}-30} = 15 4 3 6 =\frac{15}{4\sqrt{3}-6} = 60 3 + 90 12 =\frac{60\sqrt{3}+90}{12} = 10 3 + 15 2 =\frac{10\sqrt{3}+15}{2} .

We now need to subtract WO in order to obtain WZ. Again, we use similar triangles. Y G A G = W O A O \frac{YG}{AG}=\frac{WO}{AO} W O 5 3 4 = 5 3 2 5 3 2 + 15 4 \frac{WO}{\frac{5\sqrt{3}}{4}}=\frac{\frac{5\sqrt{3}}{2}}{\frac{5\sqrt{3}}{2}+\frac{15}{4}} = 75 8 5 3 2 + 15 4 =\frac{\frac{75}{8}}{\frac{5\sqrt{3}}{2}+\frac{15}{4}} = 75 20 3 + 30 =\frac{75}{20\sqrt{3}+30} = 15 4 3 + 6 =\frac{15}{4\sqrt{3}+6} = 60 3 90 12 =\frac{60\sqrt{3}-90}{12} = 10 3 15 2 =\frac{10\sqrt{3}-15}{2} .

When we subtract WO from ZO, we have 10 3 + 15 ( 10 3 15 ) 2 = 30 2 = 15 \frac{10\sqrt{3}+15-(10\sqrt{3}-15)}{2}=\frac{30}{2}=\boxed{15}

You cannot assume that X X and Y Y are equidistant from A B AB . Its only a special case. You have to consider the more genral case. Full credit will not be given if this assumption is made.. perhaps. Maybe the staffs can say something here.

Sagnik Saha - 7 years, 4 months ago

The assumption that X X and Y Y are equidistant from A B AB doesn't preserve generality.

Sreejato Bhattacharya - 7 years, 4 months ago

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