Trig in Sides?

Geometry Level 4

In A B C \triangle ABC , let B = θ ∠B=θ . If A B = 21 cos ( θ ) + 2 AB=21\cos(θ)+2 , A C = 63 cos ( θ ) 1 AC=63\cos(θ)-1 , and B C = 56 cos ( θ ) 1 BC=56\cos(θ)-1 . What is the value of 5 sec ( θ ) 5\sec(θ) ?

Note: cos ( θ ) > 0 \cos(θ)>0 . You can use a scientific calculator.

HINT : sec ( θ ) \sec(θ) is a prime number.


The answer is 35.

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1 solution

Yashas Ravi
Jul 5, 2019

By the law of cosines, ( A B ) 2 + ( B C ) 2 2 ( A B ) ( B C ) cos ( θ ) = ( A C ) 2 (AB)^2+(BC)^2-2(AB)(BC)\cos(θ)=(AC)^2 which means ( 21 cos ( θ ) + 2 ) 2 + ( 56 cos ( θ ) 1 ) 2 2 ( 21 cos ( θ ) + 2 ) ( 56 cos ( θ ) 1 ) cos ( θ ) = ( 63 cos ( θ ) 1 ) 2 (21\cos(θ)+2)^2+(56\cos(θ)-1)^2-2(21\cos(θ)+2)(56\cos(θ)-1)\cos(θ)=(63\cos(θ)-1)^2 . By simplification, 2352 cos ( θ ) 3 574 cos ( θ ) 2 + 102 cos ( θ ) + 4 = 0 -2352\cos(θ)^3-574\cos(θ)^2+102\cos(θ)+4=0 . Let A = cos ( θ ) A=\cos(θ) : The equation becomes 2352 A 3 574 A 2 + 102 A + 4 = 0 -2352A^3-574A^2+102A+4=0 . The roots of the equation in terms of A A are factors of 1 588 -\frac{1}{588} . Since the reciprocal of cos ( θ ) \cos(θ) is sec ( θ ) \sec(θ) , and sec ( θ ) \sec(θ) is prime, cos ( θ ) \cos(θ) is the reciprocal of a prime. Because cos ( θ ) > 0 \cos(θ)>0 , sec ( θ ) \sec(θ) has to be a positive prime factor of 588 588 . The prime factorization of 588 588 is 2 2 3 7 7 2*2*3*7*7 . Since sec ( θ ) \sec(θ) is prime, sec ( θ ) \sec(θ) is either 2 2 , 3 3 , or 7 7 . Testing the reciprocals of these, 1 7 \frac{1}{7} is the only one that works. Thus, 5 sec ( θ ) = 5 7 = 35 5\sec(θ)=5*7=35 which is the final answer.

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