That's a Challenge!

Geometry Level 4

Q = a c sin 2 C + c a sin 2 A \large Q = \dfrac { a }{ c } \sin { 2C }+ \dfrac { c }{ a } \sin { 2A }

If the angles A A , B B and C C of a triangle are in an arithmetic progression and let a a , b b and c c denote the lengths of the sides opposite to A A , B B and C C respectively, then find the value of Q Q .

Give your answer to 3 decimal places.


The answer is 1.732.

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3 solutions

Relevant wiki: Sum and Difference Trigonometric Formulas - Problem Solving

Since angle A A , B B and C C are angles of a triangle, we have A + B + C = 18 0 A+B+C = 180^\circ . And since they are in a arithmetic progression, we have A + C = 2 B \color{#D61F06}{A+C=2B} A + B + C = 3 B = 18 0 \implies A+B+C = 3B = 180^\circ B = 6 0 \implies B = 60^\circ . Therefore,

Q = a c sin 2 C + c a sin 2 A By sine rule, a c = sin A sin C = sin A sin C ( 2 sin C cos C ) + sin C sin A ( 2 sin A cos A ) = 2 ( sin A cos C + sin C cos A ) = 2 sin ( A + C ) = 2 sin ( 2 B ) = 2 sin 12 0 = 3 1.732 \begin{aligned} Q & = \color{#3D99F6}{\frac ac} \sin 2C + \color{#3D99F6}{\frac ca} \sin 2A & \small \color{#3D99F6}{\text{By sine rule, }\frac ac = \frac{\sin A}{\sin C}} \\ & = \color{#3D99F6}{\frac {\sin A}{\sin C}}(2\sin C\cos C) + \color{#3D99F6}{\frac {\sin C}{\sin A}} (2\sin A\cos A) \\ & = 2(\sin A \cos C + \sin C \cos A) \\ & = 2 \sin (\color{#D61F06}{A+C}) \\ & = 2 \sin (\color{#D61F06}{2B}) \\ & = 2 \sin 120^\circ \\ & = \sqrt 3 \approx \boxed{1.732} \end{aligned}

I too did he same way.

Niranjan Khanderia - 4 years, 11 months ago

2 sin ( A + C ) = 2 sin ( π B ) = 2 sin ( B ) = 2 sin ( 6 0 ) = 3 2\sin (A+C)=2\sin(\pi-B)=2\sin (\color{#D61F06}{B})=2\sin (\color{#D61F06}{60^{\circ}})=\sqrt 3 *Typos

Rishabh Jain - 4 years, 11 months ago

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But A + C = 2 B A+C=2B too, because they are in a AM.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 4 years, 11 months ago

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Oh sorry nevertheless they are same since π B = 2 B \pi-B=2B ... Sorry for that.

Rishabh Jain - 4 years, 11 months ago

I did it the same way :D

Arkajyoti Banerjee - 4 years, 11 months ago
Virat Kohli
Jul 2, 2016

Take a 30-60-90 triangle and use definition of trigonometric functions.

Wow, Kohli now on Brilliant?

Swapnil Das - 4 years, 11 months ago

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Yes,I thought of solving this problem before touring West Indies for my first test.

Virat Kohli - 4 years, 11 months ago

Exactly what I did, simplest approach in my opinion

Ραμών Αδάλια - 4 years, 11 months ago
Sparsh Setia
Jul 3, 2016

As B=60 and A,B,C are in AP therefore we can assume that A=B=C=60(assuming common difference to be zero) therefore a=b=c(as all angels are 60 so equilatral triangle) then answer becomes Q=√3(putting A=C=60)=1.731

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