Too Many Angles, Too Little Information

Geometry Level 2

In a triangle A B C ABC , the measures of the angles are A = 3 0 , \angle A=30^\circ, B = 8 0 . \angle B=80^\circ. Point M M lies inside the triangle, such that M A C = 1 0 , \angle MAC = 10^\circ, M C A = 3 0 . \angle MCA = 30^\circ. What is the measure (in degrees) of B M C ? \angle BMC?


The answer is 110.

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5 solutions

Eloy Machado
Mar 16, 2014

let x be the desired angle:

A B C : A B C B = s i n 70 s i n 30 A B M : M B A B = s i n 20 s i n ( 220 x ) M B C : C B M B = s i n ( x ) s i n 40 \triangle ABC:\quad \frac { AB }{ CB } =\quad \frac { sin70 }{ sin30 } \\ \triangle ABM:\quad \frac { MB }{ AB } =\quad \frac { sin20 }{ sin(220-x) } \\ \triangle MBC:\quad \frac { CB }{ MB } =\quad \frac { sin(x) }{ sin40 }

Multiplying the 3 equations, we have:

A B C B M B A B C B M B = 1 , \frac { AB }{ CB } \cdot \frac { MB }{ AB } \cdot \frac { CB }{ MB } = 1,

then:

sin 70 s i n 20 s i n ( x ) = s i n 30 s i n ( 220 x ) s i n 40 \sin70\cdot sin20\cdot sin(x) = sin30\cdot sin(220-x)\cdot sin40

replacing: sin 70 = cos 20 \sin70 = \cos20 and replacing: sin 40 = 2 s i n 20 c o s 20 \sin40 = 2\cdot sin20\cdot cos20

we will get: sin ( x ) = sin ( 220 x ) \sin(x) = \sin(220-x)

Solving it, we get x = 110 d e g r e e s \boxed{110 \quad degrees}

sin=opposite/hypotenuse cos=adjacent/hypotenuse

Randy Shi - 11 months, 3 weeks ago

how did you get 220

Muzamil Godil - 6 years, 8 months ago

Good solution. Can you please tell me what is the sine and the cosine rule and where have you used it? You typed a comment in the previous solution "I did with sine rule too."

Prakkash Manohar - 7 years, 2 months ago

Log in to reply

The sine rule (Law of sines) says each side lenght are proportional to it sine of opposite angle, so i used it 3 times, in 3 triangles, as u can see above.

More u can read here: Sine Rule

Eloy Machado - 7 years, 2 months ago
Ricky Theising
Mar 29, 2014

Synthetic one : First, it is easy to see that A C B = 7 0 \angle{ACB} = 70^{\circ} and M C B = 4 0 \angle{MCB} = 40^{\circ}

Now, let O O be the circumcenter of A B C \triangle{ABC} , then A O C = 2 A B C = 16 0 \angle{AOC} = 2\angle{ABC} = 160^{\circ} and so, O A C = O C A = 1 0 \angle{OAC} = \angle{OCA} = 10^{\circ} . Then, since M A C = O A C = 1 0 \angle{MAC} = \angle{OAC} = 10^{\circ} , O O must lies on A M AM , so we get M C O = M C A O C A = 2 0 \angle{MCO} = \angle{MCA} - \angle{OCA} = 20^{\circ} and M C O = O A C + O C A = 2 0 \angle{MCO} = \angle{OAC}+\angle{OCA} = 20^{\circ} . Hence, M O C \triangle{MOC} is an isosceles triangle, so M O = M C MO = MC .

Notice again that C O B = 2 C A B = 6 0 \angle{COB} = 2\angle{CAB} = 60^{\circ} and so, because O B = O C OB = OC , C O B \triangle{COB} is an equilateral triangle, so O C = O B = B C OC = OB = BC . So, O M B C M B \triangle{OMB} \cong \triangle{CMB} . Thus, M B C = M B O \angle{MBC} = \angle{MBO} . But clearly, O B C = 6 0 \angle{OBC} = 60^{\circ} because O B C \triangle{OBC} is an equilateral. So, M B C = M B O = 3 0 \angle{MBC} = \angle{MBO} = 30^{\circ} . it follows that B M C = 11 0 \angle{BMC} = 110^{\circ} .

This is the most geometric solution--no need for trigonometry here. This was very well done!

Bayardo Pena - 7 months, 1 week ago
Punarva Katte
Mar 15, 2014

Let angle BMC be x degrees.

C=180-B-A=70 degrees MCB=C-MCA=40 degrees MBC=180-40-x=(140-x) degrees

Applying Sine rule in triangle ABC, AC/sin(80) = BC/sin(30) - (1) Applying Sine rule in triangle MAC, AC/sin(140) = MC/sin(10) - (2) Applying Sine rule in triangle MBC, MC/sin(140-x) = BC/sin(x)

Substituting for MC and BC from (1) and (2), AC * sin(10) / (sin(140) * sin(140-x)) = AC * sin(30) / (sin(80) * sin(x))

Rearranging the above equation and solving for x, gives x=110 degrees.

I did with sine rule too. Would like to know if someone have a solution without depends on sine rule.

Eloy Machado - 7 years, 2 months ago

please tell me why 90 is incorrect????

Rahul Chowdhury - 7 years, 2 months ago

@Calvin Lin Would you mind posting a solution which uses a different approach from this one ?

Nishant Sharma - 6 years, 11 months ago
Maria Kozlowska
May 13, 2015

This problem is perfect candidate for applying the trigonometric form of Ceva's Theorem

In this case: sin ( 20 ) sin ( 10 ) sin ( 30 ) sin ( 40 ) sin ( x ) sin ( 80 x ) = 1 x = 30 \frac {\sin (20) }{\sin (10)} \frac {\sin (30)}{\sin (40)} \frac {\sin (x)}{\sin (80-x)} = 1 \Rightarrow x = 30 B M C = 110 \Rightarrow \angle BMC = 110

Thawan Gunawan
Mar 27, 2014

You need to find, Angle BCM, Angle BAM and Angle ABC. - Angle BCM is found through taking Angle ACB - Angle ACM = 70 degrees - 30 degrees = 40 degrees. - Angle BAM is found through taking Angle BAC - Angle MAC = 30 degrees - 10 degrees = 20 degrees. - Angle ABC is already stated; which is 80 degrees.

Now, use the concept of a quadrilateral; 4 sided figure diagram. Which adds up to 360 degrees. Kindly, subtract 360 degrees with Angle BCM, BAM & ABC: 360 degrees - 40 degrees - 20 degrees - 80 degrees = 220 degrees.

Last step is just two divide 220 degrees by two because reflex AMC is proportionate to one another: 220 degrees / 2 = 110 degrees :D

Last statement doesn't seem to be clear, could you explain it?

Mohamed Aboali - 4 years, 11 months ago

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