Let △ A B C be an isosceles triangle with A B = A C and ∠ A = 2 0 ∘ . Let D be a point on A C such that A D = B C . Find the measure of ∠ A B D in degrees.
Bonus : Solve it without using trigonometry or coordinate geometry.
This problem is not original.
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Hi, can you please describe the order in which you construct these congruent segments? I can't see why they are all congruent.
You do a zigzag from vertex A with segments of length BC until you reach the base. The angle measures confirm that it is doable.
I think this zigzag is possible for top vertex integer angle measures of: 4, 12, 20, 36, 60. In fact it is measures in the form of 2 n + 1 1 8 0 where n is natural number which is number of "zigzag segments".
Thank you for sharing this idea. It is very interesting! So, in our case n = 4 . You don't count the two segments which are on sides A B and A C , right? Does it have to do with the diagonals of regular polygons?
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It might have an interpretation relating diagonals of regular polygons, but i don't know one. The result can be derived by just drawing zigzag from the top vertex to the base and then repeatedly applying the exterior angle theorem.
Here is a simple proof : https://brilliant.org/discussions/thread/triangle-with-q-identical-lines/
A B = s of △ A B C , having A as its circumcenter. Its vertices are labelled as seen on figure 1. We notice that diagonals A 5 A 1 6 and A 6 A 1 5 are parallel. Moreover, diagonal C A 1 1 is parallel to side A 1 5 A 1 6 . Hence A E A 1 6 A 1 5 is a parallelogram.
We first consider a regular 18-gon constructed on sideThus, A E = A 1 5 A 1 6 ( 1 )
In figure 2, A 5 A 1 6 ∥ A 6 A 1 5 and A 1 2 A 1 6 ∥ A 9 B , hence G H A 1 2 F is a parallelogram, thus, G F = H A 1 6 .
Furthermore, due to pairs of parallel lines,
∠
G
F
A
=
∠
H
A
1
6
H
and
∠
F
G
A
=
∠
A
1
6
H
A
1
5
. Consequently, by ASA,
△
F
G
A
=
△
A
1
6
H
A
1
5
,
which gives that
A
F
=
A
1
5
A
1
6
=
s
(
2
)
( 1 ) and ( 2 ) imply that both diagonals C A 1 1 and B A 9 intersect A C at the given point D (figure 3). Because of this, m ∠ A B D = 2 m A 9 A 1 0 ⌢ ⇒ ∠ A B D = 1 0 ∘ .
Let x = B D , and y = A D = B C and θ = ∠ A B D .
Noting that ∠ D C B = 8 0 ∘ , then by applying the Law of Sines to △ A B D and △ D B C , we get,
x sin 2 0 ∘ = y sin θ
and
x sin 8 0 ∘ = y sin ( 2 0 ∘ + θ )
Dividing the two equations out, yields,
sin 8 0 ∘ sin 2 0 ∘ = sin ( 2 0 ∘ + θ ) sin θ
Cross multiplying,
sin 2 0 ∘ sin ( 2 0 ∘ + θ ) = sin 8 0 ∘ sin θ
Using the identity sin ( A + B ) = sin A cos B + cos A sin B , the above equation becomes,
sin 2 0 ∘ ( sin 2 0 ∘ cos θ + cos 2 0 ∘ sin θ ) = sin 8 0 ∘ sin θ
Dividing through by cos θ , and collecting terms,
tan θ = sin 8 0 ∘ − sin 2 0 ∘ cos 2 0 ∘ sin 2 2 0 ∘ = 0 . 1 7 6 3 2 6 9 8 0 7 0 8 4
Therefore, θ = tan − 1 0 . 1 7 6 3 2 6 9 8 0 7 0 8 4 = 1 0 ∘
Rotate side A B 4 0 ∘ clockwise around point A such that B ends up in a new position B ′ . Draw B ′ C and B ′ B .
Observe that, in △ A B ′ C , A B ′ = A B = A C and ∠ B ′ A C = 4 0 + 2 0 = 6 0 ∘ , which indicates that △ A B ′ C is equilateral.
Also, observe that, in △ B ′ B C & △ D B A , B C = A D (given), B ′ C = A B ′ = A B & ∠ B ′ C B = ∠ A C B − ∠ A C B ′ = 8 0 − 6 0 = 2 0 ∘ = ∠ B A D .
⇒ △ B ′ B C ≅ △ B D A (By A − S − A criterion of congruence)
Hence, ∠ A B D = ∠ C B ′ B = ∠ A B ′ B − ∠ A B ′ C = 2 1 8 0 − 4 0 − 6 0 = 7 0 − 6 0 = 1 0 ∘ .
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