The Internal Angle Bisector

Geometry Level 3

In A B C \triangle ABC , A B C = 30 ° . \angle ABC = 30°. Points P P and Q Q are chosen on A C \overline{AC} such that A P + B C = A B + C Q AP+BC= AB+CQ . The internal angle bisector of A B C \angle ABC intersects A C \overline{AC} at R R .

Given that R R is the midpoint of P Q PQ , find B A C \angle BAC (in degrees).


This problem has been adapted from the Proofathon Geometry contest, and was posed by Shivang Jindal.


The answer is 75.

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35 solutions

Shamik Banerjee
Feb 16, 2014

Let AB = c and BC = a. By angle bisector theorem, we have AB/BC = AR/RC = c/a. It implies AR = k c and RC = k a. Say, PR = RQ = x

It's given that: AP + BC = AB + CQ It implies: (AR - PR) + BC = AB + (RC - RQ) ==> (k c - x) + a = c + (k a - x) ==> a (k - 1) = c (k - 1) ... (1)

If k = 1, then AC = a + c = BC + AB which is NOT the case as BC + AB > AC (Triangle Inequality). Therefore, k ≠ 1 ==> k - 1 ≠ 0 ==> a = c (from equation # 1) ==> AB = BC.

Thus, △(ABC) is isosceles with AB = AC and so, ∠BAC = ∠ACB = (180° - ∠ABC)/2 = (180° - 30°)/2 = 150°/2 = 75°

if an angle bisector bisects at mid point of the the other side then it will be perpendicular and an isosceles triangle. hence divide ( 180-30)/2= 75 degrees

Appu Padmanabhan - 7 years, 3 months ago

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Note that R R is the midpoint of P Q PQ , not that of A C AC . I'm pretty surprised to see that all other solutions committed the same mistake.

Sreejato Bhattacharya - 7 years, 3 months ago

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could u give me more information about proofathon? plzzz i like to participate in such exams :)

Nihar Mahajan - 6 years, 7 months ago

this is what i also did

Sudha Menon - 7 years, 3 months ago

I understood the rest but could you elaborate on the first line (kc and ka) ? What is 'k' ?

Parth Dhar - 7 years, 3 months ago

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By the internal angle bisector theorem A R R C = c a \dfrac{AR}{RC}= \dfrac{c}{a} , so there must exist a k R + k \in \mathbb{R^+} such that A R = k c AR= kc , C R = k a CR= ka .

Sreejato Bhattacharya - 7 years, 3 months ago

This is the only correct solution submitted so far. Well done!

Sreejato Bhattacharya - 7 years, 3 months ago

Dear Shamik, u hav proved a(k-1) = c(k-1). from that u can continue like dis: Since a(k-1)=c(k-1) =>a=c =>AB=BC =>Angle C=Angle A => By angle sum property, AngleBAC = 75 degrees.

ur soln. helped me a lot............only drawback is that i dont know angle bisector theorem.

Ganesh Ayyappan - 7 years, 3 months ago

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No, you can't conclude a = c a=c directly. When you get a ( k 1 ) = c ( k 1 ) a(k-1)=c(k-1) , you have two cases to consider: a = c a=c and k 1 = 0 k-1=0 .

Sreejato Bhattacharya - 7 years, 3 months ago

Hey Ganesh! The angle bisector means that a certain line segment divides an angle into two equal angles.

Shikhar Juneja - 7 years, 3 months ago
Priyank Kumar
Feb 15, 2014

It's simple triangles BRC & BRA are congruent. So. angles A & B are equal.

A and C i think

Jitesh Mittal - 7 years, 3 months ago

Why must they be congruent?

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years, 3 months ago

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By SAS congruency- BR is common to both ABR and CBR, <ABR=<CBR and AB=BC

Shouvik Das - 6 years, 8 months ago

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Where does it say AB = BC?

Alan T - 3 years, 11 months ago

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@Alan T Never mind. I see it now.

Alan T - 3 years, 11 months ago
Anh Vu
Jul 16, 2014

Sorry my solution has exactly the same rationale as Shamik's but may give you a better view:

Bisector theorem: A R A B = R C B C A P + P R A B = R Q + C Q B C \frac{AR}{AB}=\frac{RC}{BC} \Rightarrow \frac{AP + PR}{AB}=\frac{RQ + CQ}{BC} A P + P R A B 1 = R Q + C Q B C 1 \Rightarrow \frac{AP + PR}{AB} - 1=\frac{RQ + CQ}{BC} -1 A P A B + P R A B = C Q B C + R Q B C ( 1 ) \Rightarrow \frac{AP - AB + PR}{AB}=\frac{CQ - BC + RQ}{BC} (1)

We are given: A P + B C = A B + C Q A P A B = C Q B C AP + BC = AB + CQ \Rightarrow AP - AB = CQ - BC

Plus P R = R Q PR = RQ

Therefore, the numerators on both sides of ( 1 ) (1) are equal A B = B C . . . a n s w e r \Rightarrow AB = BC \Rightarrow ... answer

Nethra Nethu
Feb 16, 2014

The sum of interior angles of triangle is 180 degrees, the bisector divides the line AC inti 2 equal halves, so those 2 angles are equal, hence the angle will be 75 degree

How do you know that the bisector divides AC into 2 equal halves? You are given that P R = R Q PR = RQ , why must we have A P = Q C AP = QC ?

Calvin Lin Staff - 7 years, 3 months ago

angle bisector theorem, so the 30 degree is divide into 15 degree to each triangle.... and point R makes 90 degrees to each triangle because of perpendicularity.... so sum of angles inside the triangle is 180 i.e., 15+90+x = 180 x= 180- 105 = 75 degrees

Rachit Agarwal
Feb 16, 2014

so simple triangles BRC & BRA triangle are congruent. So the angles A & B are equal

Mani Vel
Aug 18, 2015

Simple Problem, All stories given only to hint that AB and BC are equal(Indirectly), which means angles A and C are equal.
Also A+B+C=180 degrees 2A+B=180 2A+30=180 2A=150 A=75

Vasu Agarwal
Mar 26, 2015

if an angle bisector bisects at mid point of the the other side then it will be perpendicular and an isosceles triangle. hence divide ( 180-30)/2= 75 degrees

Anna Anant
Jan 24, 2015

We cannot say right away that the triangle is isosceles we have to prove this to be complete. For that we can use the bisector theorem. Let's assume that AB=a, BC=b, RC=c, AR=d. From the angle bisector theorem we have that a/b=d/c=λ. From the given one can see that a+c=b+d. From the previous two relations we get λb+c=b+λc ==> (λ-1)*(b-c)=0. Hence it comes that {b=c, a=d} or {a=b,c=d}. If {b=c, a=d} then AB+BC=AC which violates the triangular inequaility (AB+BC>AC). Therefore it should be true that {a=b,c=d}, hence ABC is isosceles. From there it is easy to see that <A=<C=(180-<B)/2=75

Ali Jamil
Jan 22, 2015

In <abc if line BR bisecting AC at mid point then right angle triangle is formed <ABR then <ABR =30 and ,ARB=90 add on both these give 105 and subtract it by 180 (total angle of triangle) 180-105=75 degree. ans

Ashish Sharma
Apr 17, 2014

Since BR is a angular bisector of angle ABC and it bisects the line AC, the triangle must be an isosceles triangle giving angle BAC ( = angle BCA) equals to (180-30)/2 (=75 degrees).

Badikala Santhosh
Mar 28, 2014

the angle bisector cuting the base at mid pont,then its a isosceles triangle.angle ARB=90 and RBA=15.sum of the angles in a triangles=>ABR+RBA+RAB=180 =>90 + 15 =RAB=180

                                 =>  RAB=75
Aiman Cool
Mar 21, 2014

it's so easy..

Kalpesh Parikh
Mar 19, 2014

It precisely implies that P & Q are at equilibrium from R and so as A & C which means if provided one angle is given, another two be found then it will be isosceles triangle form two other sides.

As in one and is given 30 degree and another two similarly are 75 degrees

Melvin Mosq
Mar 13, 2014

the sum of angles in triangle is 180 now x+y+30=180,x=y from given conditions so 2x+30=180 gives x=75

Arjun Babu
Mar 12, 2014

75

Muzaffar Ahmed
Mar 12, 2014

There is no need of AP + BC = AB + CQ. Since the angular bisector meets the midpoint of the opposite side, it divides the triangle into two congruent triangles, hence AB=AC, therefore ∠BAC = ∠ACB = 75°

Let angle ABC = 30 ; angle ARB= 90 , ( A | C mid point ) and anlgle ABC/2 (Bisector of ABC),

30/2 =15, angle ABR=15 , ARB=90, angle ARB+ABR+BAR=180, 15+90+BAR=180,
angle BAR=180-105 = 75,

Rebecca Ellis
Feb 25, 2014

m<R 90 degrees, the m<B is 15 degrees, the total measure of angles in a triangle is 180 degrees, therefore 90+15=105, 180-105=75 so the m<BAC is 75 degrees.

Shiva Kumar
Feb 23, 2014

sum of angles in triangle =180 <a+<b+<c=180 <a+<a=150 <a=150/2=75

Arun Gupta
Feb 23, 2014

since triangle is isosceles so angle is 75

Let AB = c and BC = a. By angle bisector theorem, we have AB/BC = AR/RC = c/a. It implies AR = kc and RC = ka. Say, PR = RQ = x

It's given that: AP + BC = AB + CQ It implies: (AR - PR) + BC = AB + (RC - RQ) ==> (kc - x) + a = c + (ka - x) ==> a(k - 1) = c(k - 1) ... (1)

If k = 1, then AC = a + c = BC + AB which is NOT the case as BC + AB > AC (Triangle Inequality). Therefore, k ≠ 1 ==> k - 1 ≠ 0 ==> a = c (from equation # 1) ==> AB = BC.

Thus, △(ABC) is isosceles with AB = AC and so, ∠BAC = ∠ACB = (180° - ∠ABC)/2 = (180° - 30°)/2 = 150°/2 = 75°

Jeez, you simply copy-pasted Shamik Banerjee's solution!

Sreejato Bhattacharya - 7 years, 3 months ago
Aditya Sarwate
Feb 21, 2014

iSCOSCELES tRIANGLE PROPERTY..!!!

Care to explain a bit more?

Sreejato Bhattacharya - 7 years, 3 months ago
Atul Kumar
Feb 21, 2014

First of all Find the Value of angle A and angle C . like :- angle B is 30 degree given, Remain Degree is (180-30)/2=75 each angle for angle A And angle C; Given that AP+BC = AB+CQ mid value is R to makes new angle is 90 is both of tringle which is the tringle ARB = tringle CRB Angle R=90 so angle of A is angle A + angle R + Angle B = 180 degree Angle A = 180-(Angle R+Angle B) Angle A = 180-(15+90)=180-105=75 Degree. So, Angle of A is 75 Degree

John Ray Matugas
Feb 19, 2014

Since segment BR bisects the 30 degree given angle and that Point R is the midpoint of the side opposite to the given angle, segment BR is therefore a perpendicular bisector. It forms two right triangles: BRC and ARB .

Taking triangle ARB to solve for Angle A, we take the value of angle B/2 = 15 degrees and add it up to the 90 degree angle formed by segment BR to segment BC and subtract it to 180 degrees, which is the sum of all angles in a triangle .

Angle A = 180 - (Angle B/2 + 90 degrees) = 180 - (15 degrees + 90 degrees) = 180-105 Angle A = 75 degrees .

Darsh Pathak
Feb 19, 2014

here two side's of tringle is eqals so it is isoleteral tringle so rest of two angle is also eqal so solution is 75degree

Esha Aslam
Feb 19, 2014

R is mid point of AC so R is median of triangle ABC. it will intersect AC at 90 degree. ABC is of 30 degree and ABR is 15 degree. IN triangle ABR,
angle ABR+angle ARB+angle BAR=180 15 + 90 +angle BAR=180 angle BAR=180-105=75 R is mid point of AC ,, so angle BAC=75

but you can't say that angle formed by median is 90 degree.It is altitude not median and altitude and median are not the same

Abhishek Das - 7 years, 3 months ago

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in a triangle median is always of 90 degree

esha aslam - 7 years, 3 months ago
Alok Verma
Feb 18, 2014

from question we have the distance AP=QC and hence AB=BC then angle of A=angle of c since angle( A+C)=180-angle of B that is 30 hence angle A=75

Anshul Jain
Feb 18, 2014

since R is the bisector of P&Q as well as A&C ,therefore AP=QC.Resulting AB=AC and making triangle isosceles.so applying angle sum property of triangle we can find out the angle

Wilson Widyadhana
Feb 18, 2014
  1. Angle ABC = 30 degrees - We all know a triangle always has 180 degrees, so 180 - 30 = 150 degrees.
  2. Divide 150 with 2 = 75 degrees.

wrong approach

Ravi Kumar - 7 years, 3 months ago
Rupesh Dubey
Feb 18, 2014

=>ABR=30/2=15; =>A+15+90=180 ; (ARB=90) Hence A=75

Naman Gupta
Feb 18, 2014

AP=QC AP+BC = AB+CQ BC=AB Therefore , Triangle ABC = Iscoceles Triangle with AB=BC Angle bac = Angle acb 30+angle bac+ angle acb=180 angle bac= 150/2 = 75

Ram Leo Zingabo
Feb 17, 2014

since the angle bisector divides the given angle 30 into 2 . then it will become 15. angle bisector usually forms a right angle which is 90. simple math, 180=x+15+90.. find for x. you will be able to get the answer as 75.

Balaji Kumar
Feb 17, 2014

SINCE R IS THE MIDPOINT THEREFORE IT IS PERPENDICULAR. SO ANGLE ABC SHOULD ALSO BE BISECTED. SO ANGLE ABR IS 15. SO ANGLE BAC = 180 - (90+15) = 75 DEGREES

This is what I did!

Kiron A - 7 years, 3 months ago
PrithiPal Singh
Feb 17, 2014

here, BR is a median because it is 90 degrees (as it is a perpendicular bisector) and in triangle ABR, angle ABR = 1/2 of ABC so, 15 + x + 90 = 180 or x = 75 where x = unknown angle

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