Let G1G2G3 be a triangle with G1G2=7,G2G3=13, and G3G1=15. Let G4 be a point outside triangle G1G2G3 so that ray G1G4 cuts through the interior of the triangle, G3G4=G4G2, and ∠G3G1G4=30∘. Let G3G4 and G1G2 meet at G5. Determine the length of segment G2G5.
A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.
Solution
We first show that quadrilateral G1G2G4G3 is cyclic. Note that by the law of cosines, cos∠G2G1G3=2⋅7⋅1572+152−132=21 so ∠G2G1G3=60∘. However, we know that ∠G3G1G4=30∘, so G1G4 is an angle bisector. Now, let G1G4 intersect the circumcircle of triangle G1G2G3 at X. Then, the minor arcs G2X and G3X are subtended by the equal angles ∠G2G1X and ∠G3G1X, implying that G2X=G3X, i.e. X is on the perpendicular bisector of G2G3,l. Similarly, since G4G2=G4G3,G4 lies on l. However, since l and G1G4 are distinct (in particular, G1 lies on G1G4 but not l), we in fact have X=G4, so G1G2G4G3 is cyclic. We now have G5G2G4∼G5G3G1 since G1G2G4G3 is cyclic. Now, we have ∠G4G3G2=∠G4G1G2=30∘, and we may now compute G2G4=G4G3=13/3. Let G5G2=x and G5G4=y. Now, from G5G4G2∼G5G1G3, we have: y+13/3x=1513/3=x+7y Equating the first and second expressions and cross-multiplying, we get y+3133=13153x Now, equating the first and third expressions and and substituting gives (13153x−3133)(13153x)=x(x+7) Upon dividing both sides by x, we obtain a linear equation from which we can solve to get x=169/23.
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