We are given a triangle *ABC* such that ∠BAC<90∘. The point D is on the opposite side of the line AB to C such that ∣AD∣=∣BD∣ and ∠ADB=90∘. Similarly, the point E is on the opposite side of AC to B such that ∣AE∣=∣CE∣ and ∠AEC=90∘. The point X is such that ADXE is a parallelogram. Prove that ∣BX∣=∣CX∣.
Solutions — 2
Solution 1
Since ADXE is a parallelogram, we have ∠ADX=∠AEX. This implies that ∠XDB=90∘−∠ADX=90∘−∠AEX=∠CEX. Since triangle ADB is isosceles and ADXE is a parallelogram, we have ∣DB∣=∣DA∣=∣XE∣. Similarly, ∣EC∣=∣EA∣=∣XD∣. We conclude that triangles XDB and CEX are congruent by SAS and so ∣BX∣=∣CX∣.
Solution 2
First we note that ∠DBA=∠DAB=∠ECA=∠EAC=45∘. Since ADXE is a parallelogram, we have ∠ADX+∠DAE=180∘. Thus ∠BDX=90∘−∠ADX=90∘−(180∘−∠DAE)=∠DAE−90∘=∠DAE−(45∘+45∘)=∠DAE−∠DAB−∠EAC=∠BAC. Next, note that ∣BD∣∣AB∣=2=∣AE∣∣AC∣=∣DX∣∣AC∣. Thus ∣DX∣∣BD∣=∣AC∣∣AB∣. Combining ∠BDX=∠BAC and ∣DX∣∣BD∣=∣AC∣∣AB∣, we deduce that triangles DBX and ABC are similar. It follows that ∠DBX=∠ABC and so ∠XBC=∠DBA=45∘. A similar argument shows that ∠XCB=45∘. Thus the triangle XBC is isosceles, and ∣BX∣=∣CX∣.
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