In an acute triangle ABC, O is the circumcenter, H is the orthocenter and G is the centroid. Let OD be perpendicular to BC and HE be perpendicular to CA, with D on BC and E on CA. Let F be the midpoint of AB. Suppose the areas of triangles ODC, HEA and GFB are equal. Find all the possible values of C.
Solution
Solution:
Let R be the circumradius of △ABC and Δ its area. We have OD=RcosA and DC=2a, so [ODC]=21⋅OD⋅DC=21⋅RcosA⋅RsinA=21R2sinAcosA Again HE=2RcosCcosA and EA=ccosA. Hence [HEA]=21⋅HE⋅EA=21⋅2RcosCcosA⋅ccosA=2R2sinCcosCcos2A Further [GFB]=6Δ=61⋅2R2sinAsinBsinC=31R2sinAsinBsinC Equating (1) and (2) we get tanA=4sinCcosC. And equating (1) and (3), and using this relation we get 3cosA=2sinBsinC=2sin(C+A)sinC=2(sinC+cosCtanA)sinCcosA=2sin2C(1+4cos2C)cosA Since cosA=0 we get 3=2t(−4t+5) where t=sin2C. This implies (4t−3)(2t−1)=0 and therefore, since sinC>0, we get sinC=3/2 or sinC=1/2. Because △ABC is acute, it follows that C=π/3 or π/4.
We observe that the given conditions are satisfied in an equilateral triangle, so C=π/3 is a possibility. Also, the conditions are satisfied in a triangle where C=π/4, A=tan−12 and B=tan−13. Therefore C=π/4 is also a possibility.
Thus the two possible values of C are π/3 and π/4.
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