Point M is marked inside a convex quadrilateral ABCD. It appears that AM=BM, CM=DM, and ∠AMB=∠CMD=60∘. Let K, L, and N be the midpoints of the segments BC, AM, and DM, respectively. Find the value of the angle LKN.
(S. Mazanik)
Solution
Answer: 60∘.
Let E and F be the midpoints of the segments BM and CM, respectively. Since ∠AMB=∠CMD=60∘, we have ∠BMC=360∘−∠AMB−∠CMD−∠LMN=360∘−60∘−60∘−∠LMN==240∘−∠LMN. Since KF is the midline in the triangle CBM, we have KF∥BM, therefore, ∠KFC=∠BMC. Then ∠KFM=180∘−∠KFC=180∘−∠BMC==180∘−(240∘−∠LMN)=∠LMN−60∘. By condition, CM=DM and ∠CMD=60∘, so the triangle CMD is equilateral. Since FN is the midline in the triangle CMD, we see that the triangle FMN is equilateral too and FM=NM=FN, ∠MFN=60∘. Therefore, ∠KFN=∠KFM+∠MFN=[∠MFN=60∘]=∠LMN−60∘+60∘=∠LMN. In the same way, one can show that ∠KEL=∠LMN and EM=ML=EL. Thus, △KEL=△NFK=△NML (by two sides and the angle between them), so KL=KN=LN. Therefore, the triangle KLN is equilateral and ∠LKN=60∘.
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