Problem: Let ABC be a right-angled triangle with A^=90∘ and B^=30∘. The perpendicular at the midpoint M of BC meets the bisector BK of the angle B^ at the point E. The perpendicular bisector of EK meets AB at D. Prove that KD is perpendicular to DE.
Solution
Solution: Let I be the incenter of ABC and let Z be the foot of the perpendicular from K on EC. Since KB is the bisector of B^, then ∠EBC=15∘ and since EM is the perpendicular bisector of BC, then ∠ECB=∠EBC=15∘. Therefore ∠KEC=30∘. Moreover, ∠ECK=60∘−15∘=45∘. This means that KZC is isosceles and thus Z is on the perpendicular bisector of KC. Since ∠KIC is the external angle of triangle IBC, and I is the incenter of triangle ABC, then ∠KIC=15∘+30∘=45∘. Thus, ∠KIC=2∠KZC. Since also Z is on the perpendicular bisector of KC, then Z is the circumcenter of IKC. This means that ZK=ZI=ZC. Since also ∠EKZ=60∘, then the triangle ZKI is equilateral. Moreover, since ∠KEZ=30∘, we have that ZK=2EK, so ZK=IK=IE. Therefore DI is perpendicular to EK and this means that DIKA is cyclic. So ∠KDI=∠IAK=45∘ and ∠IKD=∠IAD=45∘. Thus ID=IK=IE and so KD is perpendicular to DE as required.
Alternative Solution by PSC. Let P be the point of intersection of EM with AC. The triangles ABC and MPC are equal since they have equal angles and MC=2BC=AC. They also share the angle C^, so they must have identical incenter. Let I be the midpoint of EK. We have ∠PEI=∠BEM=75∘=∠EKP. So the triangle PEK is isosceles and therefore PI is a bisector of ∠CPM. So the incenter of MPC belongs on PI. Since it shares the same incenter with ABC, then I is the common incenter. We can now finish the proof as in the first solution.
Alternative Solution by PSC. Let P be the point of intersection of EM with AC and let I be the midpoint of EK. Then the triangle PBC is equilateral. We also have ∠PEI=∠BEM=75∘ and ∠PKE=75∘, so PEK is isosceles. We also have PI⊥EK and DI⊥EK, so the points P,D,I are collinear. Furthermore, ∠PBI=∠BPI=45∘, and therefore BI=PI. We have ∠DPA=∠BEM=15∘ and also BM=2AB=AC=PA. So the right-angled triangles PDA and BEM are equal. Thus PD=BE. So EI=BI−BE=PI−PD=DI Therefore ∠DEI=∠IDE=45∘. Since DE=DK, we also have ∠DEI=∠DKI=∠KDI=45∘. So finally, ∠EDK=90∘.
Coordinate Geometry Solution by PSC. We may assume that A=(0,0),B=(0,3) and C=(1,0). Since mBC=−3, then mEM=33. Since also M=(21,23), then the equation of EM is y=33x+33. The slope of BK is mBK=tan(105∘)=1−tan(60∘)tan(45∘)tan(60∘)+tan(45∘)=−(2+3) So the equation of BK is y=−(2+3)x+3 which gives K=(23−3,0) and E=(2−3,3−1). Letting I be the midpoint of EK we get I=(23−1,23−1). Thus I is equidistant from the sides AB,AC, so AI is the bisector of A^, and thus I is the incenter of triangle ABC. We can now finish the proof as in the first solution.
Metric Solution by PSC. We can assume that AC=1. Then AB=3 and BC=2. So BM=MC=1. From triangle BEM we get BE=EC=sec(15∘) and EM=tan(15∘). From triangle BAK we get BK=3sec(15∘). So EK=BK−BE=(3−1)sec(15∘). Thus, if N is the midpoint of EK, then EN=NK=23−1sec(15∘) and BN=BE+EN=23+1sec(15∘). From triangle BDN we get DN=BNtan(15∘)=23+1tan(15∘)sec(15∘). It is easy to check that tan(15∘)=2−3. Thus DN=23−1sec(15∘)=EN. So DN=EN=EK and therefore ∠EDN=∠KDN=45∘ and ∠KDE=90∘ as required.
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