AMC 10 Math Question

Gamest

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Jan 31, 2011
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I got stuck on a problem on this sample math worksheet. The question reads "Triangle ABC has AB=2*AC. Let D and E be on line segments AB and BC, respectively, such that angle BAE= angle ACD. Let F be the intersection of segments AE and CD, and suppose that triangle CFE is equilateral. What is angle ACB?" The choices are 60 degrees, 75 degrees, 90 degrees, 105 degrees, or 120 degrees. I can't find any work that I think is useful. Thanks for helping.
 
Hello, Gamest!

I found a solution . . . but there must be a better way!


\(\displaystyle \text{Triangle }ABC\text{ has: } AB = 2\!\cdot\! AC.\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Let }D\text{ and }E\text{ be on line segments }AB\text{ and }BC\text{, resp., such that: }\,\angle BAE\,=\, \angle ACD.\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Let }F\text{ be the intersection of segments }AE\text{ and }CD\text{, and suppose that }\Delta CFE\text{ is equilateral.}\)

\(\displaystyle \text{What is }\angle ACB\,?\)

\(\displaystyle \text{The choices are: }\; 60^o,\;75^o,\;90^o,\;105^o,\;120^o\)
Code:
                          o C
                        ** 60 *
                      * *         *
                    *@ *              *     E
                  *   *              60   o
                *    *              *         *
              *     *         *                   *
            *      * 60 *                             * 
          *       o                                       *
        *   * @  * F                                          *
    A o    *    o    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    o B
                D

\(\displaystyle \text{Let }\theta \,=\,\angle BAE \,=\,\angle ACD.\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Let }AB \,=\,2,\;AC\,=\,1.\)

\(\displaystyle \Delta CFE\text{ is equilateral; note the 60}^o\text{ angles.}\)


\(\displaystyle \text{In }\Delta ACE:\;\angle ACE = \theta + 60,\;\angle CEA = 60 \quad\Rightarrow\quad \angle CAE \,=\,60-\theta\)

. . \(\displaystyle \text{Hence: }\,\angle CAB \,=\,60^o\)


\(\displaystyle \text{In }\Delta ABC\text{, we have: }\:AB = 2,\;AC = 1,\;\angle A = 60^o\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Law of Cosines: }\:BC^2 \;=\;2^1+1^2 - 2(2)(1)\cos60^o \;=\;3\)

. . \(\displaystyle \text{Hence: }\:BC \,=\,\sqrt{3}\)


\(\displaystyle Hey\,!\;\hdots\;\Delta ABC\text{ is a 30-60 right triangle!}\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Therefore: }\:\angle ACB \:=\:90^o\)

 
Code:
A


         D


     F



C         E                   B
AB = 2AC
Triangle FEC equilateral
So ye olde 30-60-90 right triangle (as Soroban says)
BONUS:
ACD and ADF and ACE and BCD are all 30-60-90 right triangles!
 
Thanks for the help. Apparently there is an easier way than this.
 
Gamest said:
Apparently there is an easier way than this.
"Apparently"?
Soroban's can be simply/easily worded this way:

let u = angleBAE = angleACD (given)

since angleAFC=120, then angleCAF = 60 - u

since angleBAE = u, then angleBAC = 60 - u + u = 60

since AB = 2AC (given) and angle BAC = 60, then triangle ABC = 30-60-90 right triangle

so angle ACB = 90
 
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