The Three Sides

Geometry Level 3

In a triangle with sides a a , b b and c c satisfying ( a + b + c ) ( a + b c ) = 3 a b (a+b+c)(a+b-c)=3ab , find the measure of the angle opposite to the side c c (in degrees).


The answer is 60.

This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and, finally, (c) loading the non-javascript version of this page . We're sorry about the hassle.

9 solutions

Prasun Biswas
Feb 19, 2014

We should know the cosine rule which states if the triangle ABC has sides B C = a , A C = b , A B = c BC=a,AC=b,AB=c , then cos C = a 2 + b 2 c 2 2 a b \cos C =\frac{a^2+b^2-c^2}{2ab} . Given that ---

( a + b + c ) ( a + b c ) = 3 a b (a+b+c)(a+b-c)=3ab

( a + b ) 2 c 2 = 3 a b \implies (a+b)^2-c^2=3ab [since a 2 b 2 = ( a + b ) ( a b ) a^2-b^2=(a+b)(a-b) ]

a 2 + 2 a b + b 2 c 2 = 3 a b \implies a^2+2ab+b^2-c^2=3ab

a 2 + b 2 c 2 = a b \implies a^2+b^2-c^2=ab

a 2 + b 2 c 2 a b = 1 a 2 + b 2 c 2 2 a b = 1 2 cos C = 1 2 \implies \frac{a^2+b^2-c^2}{ab}=1 \implies \frac{a^2+b^2-c^2}{2ab}=\frac{1}{2} \implies \cos C=\frac{1}{2}

So, cos C = 1 2 cos C = cos 6 0 C = 6 0 \cos C=\frac{1}{2} \implies \cos C=\cos 60^{\circ} \implies C=\boxed{60^{\circ}}

I feel so stupid I just guess the number 1. And equilateral triangle popped in my head.

Arianna basha - 7 years, 3 months ago

Log in to reply

Whoa! Did not expect anyone else to solve it like I did :P high-five

Kshitij Tripathi - 7 years, 3 months ago

Equilateral triangles are the best! :D

Jeremy Bansil - 7 years, 3 months ago

Nice solution! That's exactly how i did it :D

Sina Soltanieh - 7 years, 3 months ago

nice solution

bharat bharati - 7 years, 3 months ago

u there in 10th class right now?? cool guy. i must say..

Varsha Patra - 7 years, 3 months ago

Log in to reply

Nope.....i am in class 11 right now.....giving the final exams of class 11. Only 1 more exam to go !!

Prasun Biswas - 7 years, 3 months ago

lol I even find the value of each sides.. 5, 8, and 7. but my answer is correct.

Eka Kurniawan - 7 years, 3 months ago

Log in to reply

That's not the only solution for the values of each of the sides.

Daniel Liu - 6 years, 11 months ago

nice solution

thirukandiyur sudarsana sri raman - 7 years, 3 months ago

The simplest formula that I know and yet I didn´t apply it properly

Ignacio Victoria - 7 years, 3 months ago

Correct solution

Palaniappan Muthu Raman - 7 years, 3 months ago

cosine rule didn't came to my mind.

Ritesh Manna - 7 years, 3 months ago

i did half of te problem i din't applied cos formula :(

amit kumar - 7 years, 3 months ago

i cann't understand it bit difficult

adi rana - 7 years, 3 months ago

Log in to reply

Please do tell which part of the solution you can't understand ??

Prasun Biswas - 7 years, 3 months ago

Just the same way...gud old cosine rule

Amartya Anshuman - 7 years, 3 months ago

i couldn't find the solution but i guessed the answer right and i.e 60

Rafaqat Ali - 7 years, 3 months ago

good gessing

Ravi Bendi - 7 years, 3 months ago

I had a wild guess, but my answer is correct!! :D

John Michael Belesario - 7 years, 3 months ago

cosine law and a little bit of algebra :D

Lutherdj Dumas - 7 years, 3 months ago

Guessed it was an equilateral triangle and was right!

Harshit Pokhriyal - 6 years, 11 months ago
Bedadipta Bain
Feb 25, 2014

a 2 + b 2 + 2 a b c 2 = 3 a b { a }^{ 2 }+{ b }^{ 2 }+2*a*b{ -{ c }^{ 2 }=3*a*b }

a 2 + b 2 + a b = c 2 { a }^{ 2 }+{ b }^{ 2 }+a*b=c^{ 2 }

a 2 + b 2 2 a b cos 60 = c 2 { a }^{ 2 }+{ b }^{ 2 }-2*a*b\cos { 60={ c }^{ 2 } }

The last step i dont get it

Omar Taher - 7 years, 3 months ago

Log in to reply

the last line's a cosine rule, bro

Eka Kurniawan - 7 years, 3 months ago
Anand Raj
Feb 19, 2014

Look (a + b + c)(a + b - c) = { (a+b) }^{ 2 }\quad -\quad { c }^{ 2 } = 3ab

{ a }^{ 2 }\quad +\quad { b }^{ 2 }\quad -\quad { c }^{ 2 } = ab

Cos C = \frac { { a }^{ 2 }\quad +\quad { b }^{ 2 }\quad -\quad { c }^{ 2 } }{ 2ab }

Cos C = \frac { ab }{ 2ab }

C = 60

good description

Amrut Patil - 7 years, 3 months ago
Ahmed Abdelbasit
Jun 11, 2014

i have solved it just by assuming an regular triangle

so , a = b = c a = b = c

substitute : ( a + b + c ) ( a + b c ) = ( 3 a ) ( a ) = 3 a 2 = 3 a b (a+b+c)(a+b-c) = (3a)(a) = 3a^{2} = 3ab

Avilash Kumar
Apr 22, 2014

Put a=b=c=1.

Shshank Bhardwaj
Mar 17, 2014

I solved it use y equation 1/2 abSinC with Area from Hero's formula

it must be an equilateral tianlge

Avdhesh Yadav
Mar 11, 2014

take a=b=c=1 which satisfy given eq. and it must be equilateral

( a+b+c ) ( a+b-c ) =3ab

so, (a+b) ^ 2 - c ^ 2=3ab

Hence a ^ 2+ b ^ 2 -ab= c ^ 2

Thus a^2+b^ 2-ab=a^ 2+ b ^ 2 -2abcos C

Therefore cos C = 1 / 2 =cos60°

In this way C=60°

i couldn't find the solution but i guessed the answer right and i.e 60

Rafaqat Ali - 7 years, 3 months ago

with the Grace of my Almighty Allah

Rafaqat Ali - 7 years, 3 months ago

coz i'm not too much strong in mathmatics but i've very strong intuition

Rafaqat Ali - 7 years, 3 months ago

0 pending reports

×

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...