GeometryDifficulty 5.3AIME, harderProve itUnited States
Problem:
Triangle ABC with ∠BAC>90∘ has AB=5 and AC=7. Points D and E lie on segment BC such that BD=DE=EC. If ∠BAC+∠DAE=180∘, compute BC.
Solution
Solution:
Let M be the midpoint of BC, and consider dilating about M with ratio −31. This takes B to E, C to D, and A to some point A′ on AM with AM=3A′M. Then the angle condition implies ∠DAE+∠EA′D=180∘, so ADA′E is cyclic. Then by power of a point, we get 3AM2=AM⋅A′M=DM⋅EM=36BC2 But we also know AM2=42AB2+2AC2−BC2, so we have 122AB2+2AC2−BC2=36BC2, which rearranges to BC2=23(AB2+AC2). Plugging in the values for AB and AC gives BC=111.
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Source: MathNet,
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